My Gombe Story

Governor Danjuma Goje Is Truly Special

Thank you for making Nigerians know that despite the rampaging corruption in Nigeria we still have one or two leaders who are upright. I got to know the man Danjuma Goje when I went for my youth service in Gombe six years ago. It is true that before 2007 Gombe could be practically regarded as a big village. It had nothing to show that it was a state capital. But with the coming on board of Alhaji Danjuma Goje things have changed. Honestly, I wish every governor could emulate him.

John Adeojo,
Ilorin.

What Governor Danjuma Goje has done in Gombe State is highly commendable (‘My Gombe Story,’ TheNEWS, 8 September 2008 edition). From virtually nothing he has turned Gombe into one of the most developed states in the country. Other governors should learn from him.

Mohammed Sani,
Katsina.

Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe is a true democrat. With the limited resources at his disposal, he has turned the state into one that works. I commend him for his selfless service to people of the state.

Haruna Ibrahim,
Kano.

Your cover story was an interesting read. It is laudable indeed that Nigerians can at least point to a leader who has the interest of his people at heart. That person is Alhaji Danjuma Goje, Governor of Gombe State. Thumbs up for him.

Emeka Okafor,
Onitsha.

Much as your account of the state of Gombe State provided fine prose, people who are conversant with goings-on in the state would take it with a pinch of salt. If you must know, the governor is only striving to paint a picture of his performance when the truth on ground is that he is a failed project himself. Please be more discerning.

Ahmed Sule,
Gombe.

Danjuma Goje’s account of his tenure so far in Gombe State is a typical politician’s tale. Gombe would be better off without the likes of him.

Ibrahim Mukhtar,
Dadinkowa.

Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State is indeed a rare breed. The fact that he has chosen to serve his people rather than loot the treasury is commendable. I congratulate him on his track record of service.

Bayo Olurin,
Ibadan.

The report on Governor Danjuma Goje brought to the fore the many developmental programmes in Gombe State. However, my worry is if Goje will come out snow white should the EFCC ask him to explain how he spent state funds kept in his care.

Weyinmi Thomson,
Koko.

I was very happy when I read your last edition titled ‘My Gombe Story’ which featured the giant strides of Governor Danjuma Goje. Actually, if you had not done the story I would have been forced to conclude that your magazine is out there to only report the ugly side of events, ignoring the good side. Gombe State has actually been benefiting greatly from this exceptional governor. Goje is a man most of our leaders must emulate.

Elijah Anjili,
Hawul.

I agree with you that Governor Danjuma Goje has, for the past five years, been transforming Gombe State in all facets of life. Since he came to power in 2003, most of us in Gombe have been standing tall, telling people that we are from the Jewel in the Savannah. He has been able to provide us with water, good road network, job opportunities, health care etc. I pray that Allah will enable us choose another man that will build on his legacies come 2011.

Ibrahim Mohammed,
Gombe.

With the giant strides of Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe in the last five years, I believe that Nigerians need not search too long for the person that can fix the country within the shortest possible time. Governor Goje has shown us that serving the people should be the priority of any government. Like he espouses: governance is for the people and one goes into government to serve the people. Anything short of that is a failure on the part of that public servant. Well said, Goje.

Adamu Farouk,
Sokoto.

Goje is my man. He is giving Gombe State a human face. I will just advise him to carry everybody along, irrespective of creed, culture and political affiliation.

Ibrahim Bello,
Gombe.

I am highly impressed by the performance of Governor Goje against the background of rot in the system. I have always believed that the problem with the Nigerian project is not the dearth of resources–human and material–to take the country to greater heights. What is lacking is honest, dedicated and selfless leaders who will harness the abundant resources for the benefit of the people. May Allah bless Nigeria and its people with more Danjuma Gojes.

Rasheed Onisabi,
Abuja.

Yar’Adua’s Govt. Is Heading For Disaster

Your interview on Yar’Adua government’s heading for a disaster (TheNEWS, 8 September 2008 edition) is a true reflection of the state of affairs in the country. My only prayer is that when it comes, Nigeria will not be set back by decades.

Anwalu Kabir,
Kano.

There is no doubt that Yar’Adua’s first year in office has been a monumental disaster. I entirely agree with Dr. Junaid Mohammed’s criticism in the interview that none of Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda has been achieved and, judging by his frequent trips abroad on health grounds, would not be achieved.

Yemisi Oluwasanmi,
Ile-Ife.

I don’t see how President Yar’Adua’s government will not eventually end in total disaster. As far as he still remains under Obasanjo’s spell, Nigerians should be prepared to live with these irresponsible leaders who do not have anything to offer, but the continued instability of the economy.

Tolani Jinadu,
Alagbado, Lagos.

I believe your magazine meant well for this country with your cover story featuring Junaid Muhammed’s interview which really revealed the present predicament that our so-called leader has put this country into. My advice to Yar’Adua is that he either resigns honourably or wakes up from his slumber to correct the disaster that his predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo has plunged this country.

Mustapha Yussuf,
Okene.

As far as I am concerned, the disaster that Yar’Adua government is heading towards can be prevented if we all stop criticising his government and realise that everybody has a role to play for this nation to get to the promised land.

Femi Adewale,
Minna.

After reading through Junaid Mohammed’s interview, I came to the conclusion that it is not the government of Yar’Adua that is heading for disaster, but Nigeria as a country. Nigerians should wake up and take their destiny in their hands.

Michael Akpan,
Calabar.

Yar’Adua government is not heading for a disaster. It is already the biggest disaster that has ever visited this country. We don’t need a crystal ball to understand that reality.

Bisi Oyemade,
Ilorin.

Junaid Mohammad has said it all. Let us wakeup and do something real fast before things get out of hand.

Emeka Orji,
Aba.

The assertion by Dr. Junaid Mohammed that the Yar’Adua administration is headed for disaster is explosive but frank. Yar’Adua clearly has no business in Aso Rock. But what can the poor masses do? Just pray and hope for the best.

Israel Adedoyin,
Ibadan.

I agree completely with Junaid Mohammed that there is disaster in the offing and our President appears to have run out of ideas. God save Nigeria. The future is as bleak as a cloudy sky.

Etim Akpabio,
Calabar.

In a situation where the need is not available, the people are forced to make do with what is available. Yar’Adua may not be the best man for the job of President, but surely he is better than all the other contenders. What he needs from critics like Junaid is patience and understanding.

Raphael Udobong,
Uyo.

The situation in the country may be turbulent but certainly not as bleak as the likes of Junaid Mohammed would want us to believe. Time will eventually show that Junaid is just a rabid attention-seeking critic who is determined to create undue panic.

Bello Idris,
Ilorin.

Over time, the Yar’Adua administration has demonstrated an uncanny ability to do what is wrong. Apart from his obvious lethargic posture to key national issues, the former Katsina helmsman lacks the mental and physical stamina to govern a complex entity like Nigeria.

Pius Asu,
Enugu.

Your interview with Junaid Mohammed says a lot about this administration’s lack of focus and commitment to the noble aims and objectives of good governance. President Umar Yar’Adua must sit-up if he wants to be regarded as a veritable president.

Jude Odinkalu,
Asaba.

Junaid Mohammed’s views are quite patriotic and I was not in any way surprised that such radical views found expression on your platform. We must call a spade by its name, no matter what anybody feels about the current situation.

Abimbola James,
Ibadan.

Your interview with Junaid Mohammed only added another view to a problem that is already well known. Nigeria is headed for disaster and everybody knows this. If Yar’Adua likes, let him continue to delude himself that he is presiding over something other than a rudderless country.

Anthony Okeleke,
Enugu.

This government must be told the truth: we have not recorded any progress under the present administration. Perhaps we need more people like Junaid Mohammed to continually remind us of the realities of the day.

Mahmood Akilu,
Kano.

President Umar Yar’dua’s regime is comatose and planless because the man is not fully in control due to his ill-health. Hence, his wife, Katsina hangers-on and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe are running the country. Nearly one-and-half years in office, Yar’Adua is yet to point to anything concrete he has achieved to lift the masses of Nigeria from impoverishment. Other nations like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that have huge oil deposits like Nigeria do look after the welfare of their citizenry, hence their lives are better than Nigerians’. Also, their roads, hospitals and power generation system are far superior to Nigeria’s. Leaders in those Arab nations do not embezzle public funds. Yar’Adua should emulate what he saw while in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Kolawole Boboye,
Canada.

The political atmosphere in Nigeria has heavily tainted with turbulence. Since the first republic, successive administrations have only been interested in what they can steal from the national coffers and not what they can offer to make the country great. The interview with Dr. Junaid Mohammed was explosive and thought-provoking. Our leaders are intellectually barren, morally bankrupt and insensitive to constructive criticism that could move the nation forward. However, tha African adage that says a dog that is destined to be doomed would not listen to the voice of the hunter holds true. Any government that lacks legitimacy is doomed to fall. Lord Denning said that you cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand. No way!

Olugbenga Adejayan Esq,
Lagos.