Gombe gov urges dialogue over protests

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Less than 24 hours before the planned nationwide protest against bad governance, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has urged Nigerians, particularly the organisers of the protest, to embrace dialogue and understanding as the best approach to addressing the nation’s challenges rather than resorting to protests.

The governor made the call during a meeting with organised labour, civil society organisations (CSOs), and other trade unions in Gombe State.

According to him, “It is dialogue and understanding that will bring peace and development, not protest and violence,” the governor emphasised, calling on leaders and followers alike to make sacrifices for the nation’s survival.”

The governor also appealed to business owners and traders to desist from hoarding commodities, warning of government intervention if the situation persists.

He commended the organisations present for choosing dialogue over protest, assuring them that their grievances would be addressed.

The Governor used the occasion to disclose that the state is yet to receive its allocated share of the Federal Government’s rice, intended for free distribution to citizens to alleviate the current hardship.

Inuwa Yahaya commended the Federal Government’s initiative, which allocated 20 trucks of rice to each of the 36 states and the FCT to cushion the effects of the economic challenges faced by the populace.

He, however, expressed concern over the delay in receiving these essential supplies in Gombe.

Despite this, he emphasised the state’s commitment to providing relief to its citizens, citing previous palliative distributions and ongoing investments in education, health, and agriculture.

The governor assured workers of the state government’s commitment to continued regular salary payments and the clearance of outstanding gratuities and other entitlements.

In their remarks, representatives of the Organised Labour and Chairman of the Gombe State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Yusuf Aish Bello, Coalition of Civil Society organisations, Ibrahim 3000, and the Gombe State Traders Association, Alhaji Sunusi, emphasised that all their members and affiliate bodies opposed the planned nationwide protest, opting instead for dialogue and discussion to foster peaceful coexistence in the state and the nation.

The governor also met with youth and student groups across Gombe State as part of his continued engagement with critical stakeholders to mitigate the potential negative impact of the planned August protest.

The meeting, which was held on Tuesday following a sensitization programme earlier convened by the groups, focused on how the government could resolve the concerns of Nigerians through dialogue, as opposed to the protests being promoted by some citizens.

The groups, including representatives from the Gombe State Students Association (GOSSA) and the Coalition of Youth Groups, voiced their opposition to the protest, emphasising their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the state while exploring other means of channelling their concerns to the authorities.

During the engagement, the groups presented a series of demands to the governor, one of which was the opening of a scholarship portal, appointments of aides on student and youth matters, and increased youth empowerment, among others.

Responding, Governor Inuwa Yahaya approved the immediate opening of the scholarship portal to enable students to enrol and benefit from educational opportunities and directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to expedite the process of appointing Special Assistants on Students’ Matters, a move aimed at better addressing the concerns of the student community.

The governor reassured the youths of his administration’s commitment to their empowerment, citing the recently passed social investment bill by the state assembly, which is designed to create job opportunities as part of efforts to improve the living conditions for young people in Gombe.

“We are not against protest. This is a constitutional right for every citizen. Our deep concern about this planned protest is the fact that it is faceless. We don’t know the actual people organising it. Therefore, we discourage it because it has the potential for unrest and violence that could arise from it. I urge you and all the entire residents of Gombe to guard the peace and security that we enjoy in Gombe,” the governor said.

“Our state has always been peaceful in the country, and it is our collective responsibility to preserve this peace. I urge all of you, as the future leaders of this state, to embrace peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement rather than resorting to actions that could lead to instability and violence,” the governor added.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya acknowledged the legitimate concerns and frustrations expressed by the youths and students, assuring them to convey some of their concerns to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I am personally committed to ensuring that your concerns are addressed at the highest levels, including conveying them to President Bola Tinubu,” the Governor assured.

Earlier in their remarks, the National President of the Gombe State Students Association (GOSSA) and the Chairman of the Coalition of Youth Groups, Comrade Muhammad Al-Amin Nafada and Comrade Amtai Ali Sa’idu expressed their gratitude for the Governor’s swift response and commitment to addressing their demands, praising his efforts to support the youth and pledged to continue to serve as ambassadors of peace for Gombe State.

“As we express our needs and expectations, we also declare that the students of Gombe State will not partake in the planned protest scheduled for August 1st. We believe that violent protests can lead to the closure of schools and the disruption of academic calendars, which will impact students negatively. Our focus is on constructive dialogue and peaceful advocacy, working together with the government to achieve our common goals”, the GOSSA president remarked.

“We want to declare very plainly that the youth groups of Gombe State will not participate in the planned protest on August 1st. We believe in dialogue, cooperation, and peaceful advocacy as the most effective means of achieving our goals. Let us continue to work together, constructively engaging with our leaders and building a brighter future for all. Gombe is the only home we have. Our fathers, both late and those alive, have given so much in building this state to this level; we don’t want to be on that page of history where we will be remembered for destroying this state. We are for peace, not violence,” declared the chairman of the Youth Coalition.

The Governor was joined by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and other lawmakers, the Secretary to the State Government and other members of the State Executive Council, the Chief of Staff, Chairmen of Local Government Councils, Heads of Security Agencies in the State, and traditional rulers, amongst others, as contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.

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