Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State says neither him nor Senator Danjuma Goje know if they will be alive in 2023.
The governor said this Tuesday while fielding questions from State House reporters at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The convoy of the senator representing Gombe Central, Goje, was on Friday attacked by suspected political thugs while he was going to the state capital to attend a wedding.
An aide to the former governor of Gombe State, Lilian Nworie, in a statement issued, alleged that the thugs were people loyal to Gombe State Governor Yahaya after a purported disagreement with the current federal lawmaker.
Goje, who petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, called for the probe of the attack on him while equally notifying the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba; chairman of the Police Service Commission, the Minister of Police Affairs and the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State.
However, while speaking on Tuesday, Governor Yahaya promised to end the activities of the Kalare group and warned those associating with them to stop henceforth.
He said: “The security situation in my State is calm now and people are going about their normal activities. The issue we had before now was caused by a former Governor of the State, Danjuma Goje, a serving Senator, who you all know. He tried causing mayhem, and the people resisted that but as result of the skirmish that ensued, lives were lost and some people’s properties were destroyed.”
On Goje’s accusation that some officials of Gombe State Government were threatening his life, the governor said investigation would reveal the truth.
“They, authorities, concerned will find out the truth since he has reported so that the matter would be investigated. Let’s wait for the outcome of the investigation but whoever knows the history of Gombe knows who Goje is and they know who Inuwa (The current Gov) is. People know the difference between us,” he said.
On why it was difficult for the two parties involved to resolve the matter amicably, Governor Yahaya said: “If someone is in his right senses and can carefully listen to the people, he will do the right thing. What he wants to do now is to continue with his old way of doing things while I and my government will not tolerate that at all and that is what led to the current problem. He is an elder; he should be the one cautioning anyone trying to ferment trouble not instigating it because of his selfish reasons.
“I will try my best because he is insisting on having his way and I am doing the same but there is God who knows everything and the society itself can judge but God is with the one who says the truth and does the right thing.”
The governor, who was asked whether their fight had to do with his re-election bid in 2023, said only God knows if both he and Goje would be alive in 2023.
“Well, what you need to know is that only God knows tomorrow. Both I and Goje don’t know if we will see the year 2023. My major aim is to stand firm and fulfil the pledges I made to the people in line with my oath of office as well as bring about development in our State, with peace and tranquillity prevailing because without peace, there wouldn’t be development,” he said.
Yahaya also dismissed the insinuation claims by Goje that he had hijacked the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State.
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