Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, played host to the Gombe State Governor and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Abdullahi Inuwa, at the Presidential Villa, where they discussed ways of resolving the security challenges that have been bedevilling the country.
Their discussion also centred on the flooding risk in parts of the country, especially in the wake of the rainy season.
Governor Inuwa, while interacting with the media after the meeting at the State House, revealed that they delved into some political issues as well.
He said, “As a politician, we did discuss some politics. But these issues of insecurity and flooding are those that are bedeviling especially the northern states, where I am the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum. Mind you, himself (VP) was a governor, a senator, and now the Vice President, so he knows the in and out of all these problems, we touched on them, and I believe, together with other of our colleagues, and the federal government, this time around, the strategy will be different, and we will find a lasting solution to the problem of flooding and other socio economic problems of the country.”
Still speaking on security challenges and how he has been able to maintain peace, he said the magic is that he is fortunate to be presiding over a state with diverse ethnic groups and religious affiliations.
He said, “There is peace in Gombe for so many reasons. One, the nature of our people. We are sort of a mix of several ethnic groups, and several religions joined together and living peacefully. So within a family, you could find people of different faiths sharing the same parents.
“With that background, we have been able to build on it and coordinate the relationships. Secondly, the government is focused and is working day and night with the security agencies to ensure that there’s compliance with law and order and there is compliance to a reasonable extent”.
“At the moment, we’re focusing on maintaining peace by providing for everybody as well as all sectors in a way that we understand and cooperate with one another.
“And we give chance so that as you do unto yourself, you do same to the other person for the purpose of obtaining peace and tranquility in the state. That is why Gombe has made some difference and that’s where we are.”
On flooding challenge, Governor Inuwa acknowledged that it is a global issue and a national phenomenon that is being felt everywhere.
“Mind you, if you talk of flooding from the north, it is either through the tributaries of the rivers, Niger and Benue, that link up the conference in Lokoja and then run down to the Delta, ending in Bayelsa to the Atlantic Ocean, and those tributaries as a result of the change in nature and geography. Their siltation, a lot of siltation comes as a result of poor farming practices, and deforestation.
“The forest and our farms have now turned and gave way for the desert. These exacerbate the sanitation that takes place along the streams and rivers. So we must work as one people. The problem of flooding is virtually a national issue now, you know, global warming and climate change is affecting all the globe, and for that, we are strategizing. We would not like a repeat of what happened last year to repeat this year,” he noted.
