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Yobe governor is doing well -LG boss
Alhaji Umar Kali Alkali is the executive chairman of
Damaturu, Local Government Area of Yobe State. In this interview with
correspondent Hassan Jirgi, he speaks on several issues, including how
the Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim administration has improved the lives of Yobe
people, especially those at the grassroots level and advances reasons for the
newly created local government councils in the state. Excerpts.
WHY did the state create 23
additional local government areas?
The creation of additional 23 local
governments across the state is part of measures by government to ensure rapid
development because the creation of local governments, I think, will create more
jobs, and is capable of bringing development closer to the people. This
administration is fully committed to the creation of 23 new local government
areas as recommended by a committee earlier set up by the state government.
If not for the creation of more local
government areas across the country, development would have been concentrated
only in a few places. In his wisdom Gov. Ibrahim consulted the people of Yobe
State and even conducted a referendum.
At the end of the exercise Yobe people
asked for additional 45 but the government ignored them and created 23, bringing
the total number of councils to 40. Infact, there was no outcry over it. Even
the opposition parties accepted it.
Infact, I want to use this opportunity to
call on the entire people of the state to come out and give their full support
to the exercise irrespective of party affiliation.
The local governments when fully
operational will contribute to democracy and to development. They will
contribute to democracy by bringing citizens to participate in activities in
their own government especially in the management of basic services that concern
the local community.
The Federal Government already said that
all newly created local governments by state governors are not recognised. What
is your view of this?
The creation of additional local
governments by states governors is recognised by the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
Section 8 of the 1999 constitution
empowers the governors to create additional local government areas in their
various states. Yobe State complied fully with the provision contained in
section 8 of the country’s constitution with regards to local government
creation.
In fact, the essence of establishing local
governments from the reforms of 1976 to date is to ensure that development gets
to the grassroots.
The process of development is infinite in
the life of a state or a nation. We must, as leaders and members of our
generation make our little contribution as part of the foundation upon which
others can build upon.
The people at the grassroots level are in
full support of the exercise by the government of Yobe State. We are pursuing
the issue of creating additional local governments because we are convinced that
doing so will enhance further development. It is simply a development strategy
which has no political undertone.
The passage of the newly created local
government areas bill 2002 which the state governor has signed into law is an
important milestone in the history of this state, having been one of the few
states in the whole of the Federation and the second in our sub-region to scale
through the rigour of creation of local governments.
Can the state fund the new councils?
There is no problem at all with funding
because the funds now coming into the local government coffers through the local
government state joint account which is now constitutionally being controlled by
the state governor.
On the funding of new local government
councils, Gov. Ibrahim has explained that the joint account between local
governments and the state will take them into consideration. Some committees
will meet monthly for this reason. But the only problem with funding attributed
not to state government but to the federal government.
How would you rate the performance of
Governor Ibrahim of Yobe State generally?
Governor Ibrahim is a very good governor.
He cares for all Yobeans including the less privileged Talakawa.
His administration is ensuring a steady
supply of clean water to the people, rural electricity projects are being
provided in the entire state and government has put in place a number of policy
options aimed at boosting agriculture and water resources development.
I believe that he has performed creditably
well especially in the area of physical development of the state in terms of
provision of social amenities such as potable water, healthcare delivery and
education. He has constructed major drainages in four towns namely: Potiskum,
Gashua, Nguru and Damaturu the state capital. Also there is free education upto
the Secondary school level. He has also created additional 23 local governments
and new emirates.
Another big physical project is the
reconstruction of the N1.9 billion Geidam Bayamari road which has reached 55 per
cent completion. Similarly, the Girgir-Karage road has reached 75 per cent
completion and these are only a few of the achievements of the Governor
Ibrahim’s government.
The Sharia legal system is in force in
Yobe State. What are its gains?
Sharia has been in full implementation for
the past three years. A lot of achievements have been recorded Muslims in the
state now practice their religion without any fear of intimidation and they are
more advanced on the application and practice of Sharia. They are conversant
with the disciplinary measure for each offence that is contained in the Holy
Qur’an and in the many villages we have, you find that so many Islamic schools
have been established and a lot of children have enrolled in the schools. There
are teachers that are willing to serve their state not for worldly reward but
for the reward in the hereafter. All these are geared towards ensuring that the
objectives of establishing the Sharia are achieved.
What are the chances of the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2007 general elections?
I am sure you know that the chances of our
party in the 2007 elections are bright high because everything is there for you
to know that there must be a new government in the country. The government of
P.D.P headed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, has failed Nigerians most
especially those in the rural areas. So the masses of the country are looking
for an alternative party to form a new government that will give the country a
sense of direction and the only party they can find is the A.N.P.P which is much
more focused. So our chances are bright. In fact, all Nigerians know that this
second Obasanjo administration has failed and has no direction. I don’t think
Obasanjo has done something in Yobe State or in Nigeria generally.
What is your priority for the entire
people of your local government?
My priority is their basic needs which
include good and accessible health care delivery, sound education, roads repair
and enhanced agricultural production because my people are farmers. My
administration is geared towards ensuring that these sectors receives adequate
attention for the good of all.
Besides, efforts are being made to form
co-operative societies and groups that would meet with the local government
staff and elected councillor to discuss their basic needs.
I wish to join all Yobeans to call on
those who are either sponsored or misguided to put and end to violent and
criminal acts. I wish to call on all our people to embrace unity. We must live
peacefully with each other irrespective of our tribal, religious and political
differences.
Peace will usher in speedy development and transformation
of our standard of living.
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