Ahead of Wednesday’s inauguration of their successors, 12 governors Tuesday rounded off their tenure in their various states, with some scoring themselves high as performers.
The states are Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Kwara, Zamfara and Adamawa.
While some completed a two-term tenure, others were not that lucky in their return bid.
Yobe
Speaking at the valedictory session/handing over to his successor Mai Mala Buni in Yobe state, the governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, Tuesday said the contributions made by his administration had brought tremendous achievements by placing Yobe high amongst few states in the country that can fund 2019 budget from combined Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations for 2017 and 2018.
“Recently, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) released a report which indicated that due to our realistic budget, Yobe is one of the eight solvent states and in fact the only state that can fund 2019 budget from combined Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations for 2017 and 2018.
“Furthermore, the National Bureau for Statistics report for 2017 indicated that Yobe has achieved over 75% coverage of the state in provision and improvement of potable water supply”, he said.
Gaidam further said despite the challenges faced in the past 10 years especially, the Boko Haram insurgency, the government was able to perform credibly well.
“As I indicated earlier, today we are not sad but rather smiling that we were part of all that I have enumerated. As members of the outgoing State Executive Council, you should hold your heads high that you are part of the present administration which has recorded all these tremendous achievements”.
Ogun
Similarly, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state also bowed out of office, a day to the official end of his eight-year- tenure.
Amosun said he would be leaving for Saudi Arabia to spend some days in expressing appreciation to God for seeing him through.
He drove out in a motorcade in the company of his wife, and Deputy Governor, Yetunde Onanuga.
The former governor said he came, he saw and conquered and that God used him as a tool to transform the state.
“Firstly, all glory and adoration to almighty God because it is God that does things. He just uses us as tools in the way He wishes. So I want to thank God primarily and the good people of Ogun state.
“My joy knows no bound because I am not the first governor of Ogun state and you people (journalists) know Ogun state more than I do because we are like soldiers and they will say; soldier comes soldier go, barracks remain. Clearly, you (journalists) have seen even the military amongst others.”
Amosun had earlier directed his Secretary to the State Government, Adeoluwa Taiwo, to formally hand over to the incoming administration.
“We came, we saw and to a reasonable extent, we have conquered. We are leaving Ogun state better than we met it. Some cannot even stay and someone says I am running away. Yes, but I will be running to Mecca to say thank you to God and I will be away for like 14 days because I will be coming for Sallah.
“I have told God that if He would do this for me, I will come and say thank you. And I am going to thank Him (God) for what I will describe as unseen fingers, uncommon glory and favour.
“Immediately we came, we knew what we wanted to do and that certain things must be put in place such as infrastructures and we did that. I have done my bit and I have moved on. And of course, I have a new assignment which I will do better than I have done in government.
“I am off and once you have done your bit, leave so that people can decide what is best for them. We have done our best and I am at peace with my creator,” the former governor said.
The outgoing governor is at loggerheads with his incoming successor, Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidature he opposed, he supported Akintunde Akinlade, his preferred candidate who ran on the Allied People’s Movement (APM) platform.
Akinlade is currently contesting the outcome of the poll at the election petition tribunal
Imo
Also, Governor Rochas Okarche of Imo state said he was leaving in the coffers of the state enough funds for incoming governor, Emeka Ihedioha, to work with.
He said this Monday while swearing in new permanent secretaries, a new accountant-general and a new head of service at the Government House, Owerri, the state capital.
He said the sum of N42.5 billion was left in the treasury so the incoming administration would not experience financial setbacks.
According to him, N8.1 billion had been set aside for payment of salaries and for capital projects, while the sum of N5.2 billion was earmarked for payment of pension arrears.
He also stated that N7.6 billion had been set aside for renovation of schools across the state and N21.6 billion for the construction of rural roads.
Addressing the new permanent secretaries, the governor advised them to do their best to reposition the civil service in the state, protect the integrity of the state, and to shun corruption.
He said: “My government has kept aside a total of N42.5b for the incoming government, and for that reason, I will set up a sub-committee to make sure that the projects they are attached to, come to fruition even when I am out of office because government is a continuum.
“I, therefore, charge you to serve our dear state with all your might just as I have.”
The new Head of Service is Ngozi Eluma, while the permanent secretaries are: Donald Igbo, who will double as Accountant General; Edith Ekenze, Elias Anyanwu, and Justus Oguoma.
Others are Reginald Oguike, Benjamin Nnamadu, Patricia Atuechi Elebiri, George Ejiogu, Patricia Uche Ezeonyeachi, Ngozi Bernadine, and Meg Obi.
Benue
Similarly Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state Tuesday said he would no longer appoint wheel barrow assistants, saying appointment during his second term would be based on professionalism.
The governor also backed calls for the establishment of the Middle Belt Development Commission.
Ortom, who spoke Tuesday in an interview with newsmen, said his second term would be better and that he would concentrate on projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people.
The governor said he needed professionals to work with in his second term to add value to the state rather than those who would sit around doing nothing.
On his views about the establishment of the North Central Development Commission, the governor said the killings in the North-central were more than those witnessed in the North-east.
He said homes, schools, clinics, churches and markets were destroyed and children who ought to be in school were forced to live in internally displaced persons (IDPs’) camps.
“In Benue for instance, for close to two years now, no child in the affected areas can go to school.
“The insurgency has not ended because there are still pockets of attack going on in our villages. There are many IDPs in the camp. Many people cannot go back to their homes because they are attacked anytime they attempt to do so.
“The makeshift schools provided in the IDPs’ camps are not enough because of the high number of children displaced. These schools and homes need to be rebuilt if the IDPs must return,” he said.
The governor also said the situation where cattle were allowed to roam about in the name of grazing was archaic and something needed to be done to end the situation.
Ortom said some of the steps contemplated by the federal government, which he said included giving of N100 billion to herdsmen and establishing a Fulani radio station would rather worsen the situation.
“You hear the federal government talk about giving of N100 billion to herdsmen, they will simply use that money to buy arms and kill us. There is this talk about Fulani radio, if that is done, then federal government will also have to establish the Tiv, Idoma and Igede radios separately.
“We need to be sincere in tackling the issue of insecurity in Nigeria. It is only here in this country that cattle drive out people from their offices and cause traffic problems without any issues,” he said.
Bauchi
Meanwhile, the transition committee set up by the incoming governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammad has said the outgoing administration was leaving behind a debt of N137 billion.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Gumba stated this Tuesday while presenting his report to the governor-elect.
He recommended a review of the state 2019 budget to incorporate the policies and programmes that would meet the needs of the citizens.
Similarly, the committee declared the report of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) subcommittee as inconclusive due to alleged failure of the board’s management to give necessary cooperation.
Gumba commended the transparency and cooperation by some heads of ministries, departments and agencies and also suggested the establishment of assets recovery committee to retrieve public properties from cabinets of the outgoing government.
In his remark, the incoming governor, Senator Mohammad pledged to promptly respond to the committee’s recommendations for the betterment of the state.
He commended the committee for a job well done.
