Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State has described the immediate past Comptroller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede, as a worthy son and ambassador of the state.
He said every true son and daughter of the state must be proud of Babandede, whom he said served the country meritoriously and brought honour and respect to the Immigration service.
The governor said this at the weekend when the former CGI paid him a courtesy visit to appreciate his support throughout his more than five-year tenure.
He said, “Well, we have to thank you very much because we had a worthy ambassador out there. I have seen and I know that the Nigeria Immigration Service never had it so well.
“It is not me that said it but the minister (Minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola). It was a testimony for those of us who were there at the pulling out ceremony.
“So, Jigawa sons and daughters will always be proud of you for being a good ambassador.
“And I’m sure that you are not tired. The time will come when we will need your service.
“I am very sure of that. The same passion that you have for the development of the country and the state will be demonstrated again and again.
“So I congratulate you for a very wonderful exit from civil service and a toast to a promising new beginning because the records are there.”
Earlier in his words of appreciation to the governor, the former CGI said he was humbled and honoured by the governor’s support and encouragement.
He said he was to be hosted by the people of his Hadejia hometown and Ringim at the weekend but that he could not enter the state without first paying homage to the governor.
He said on the day of the pulling out ceremony, the governor was already on seat before 9a.m for a programme slated for 10a.m.
Babandede said, “We have come to thank you for your support when I was the CG and even when I was leaving the service. You were the first person to arrive the pulling out ceremony.
“The programme was scheduled for 10a.m but before 9a.m you were already in your seat. That is a huge honour.
“If you were not there, the ceremony would have been different but when my own governor is on a seat, and my own emir was also on the seat, then there was nothing left.
“I have also come to tell you that the emir of my hometown is organising dinner for me and the emir of Ringim is organising lunch for me on Sunday.
“They said they appreciate our modest contributions to our community, even though I have given them clear warning that there should be no political rallies because I have just retired and I have not indicated any intention to do anything.”
Babandede said he has no political ambition yet except that he wants to rest to think of the next chapter in his life.
“One needs to rest, sit down properly before one decides on what to do. This clarification is important because social media could be terrible. Before you know it, stories will be flying around.”
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