Haruna Garba, a former ambassador, senator and career civil servant of repute, says he will implement two remaining agenda of the founding fathers of Gombe state if elected governor.
In this interview with NAJIB SANI, he speaks on this and other sundry issues.
Excepts:
How has it been since you left active service as an ambassador and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Well, I was a senator before becoming an ambassador, and I was senator between 2007 to 2012 and 2012 to 2015 when I became an ambassador to Kuwait and Bahrain in the kingdom of the Arab land.
And I think it was very educating, an exciting experience and it was very wonderful to work at those levels as a citizen of Gombe state first and as a Nigerian.
In simple word why do you want to be the governor of Gombe state? Well, in my earlier interview I told that there is agitation by some people that I should come and contest because they think so far in all the places I have worked it has been very beautiful and people are very proud of that.
My records has been very clear and I have never been found wanting in any of those assignment whatever.
Let me list them for you, I was with the standard bank as a cashier and I later on moved to Ashaka Cement Company as a sales distribution accountant and later came back to the ADP where I later rose to be the financial controller in the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme.
In fact, I was the first accountant general of Gombe state and after that I became the commissioner for finance in Gombe and the chairman of the investment company.
In all these appointments I held, I was never found wanting in the course of discharging my duty for the state and country and it has been a source of pride for anybody who knows me and I think it has been a wonderful experience and my thanks goes to Almighty ALLAH for preserving my life to serve my country and my land.
If eventually you become the governor of Gombe state.
What will be your mission and vision for the state? Well, let me tell you that first and foremost in 1995 when we muted the idea of having our own state we had drawn up what is known as a blueprint, and I think the previous governors of the state from the three military and three civilian governors they have all tried their best.
But I believe there is one or two items on the blue print which I will like to work upon to see to its actualization.
It is my own desire to consolidate all those gains and also achieve more of what is been designed in our blue print.
What are the two agenda that are yet to be implemented as designed by the fore fathers of Gombe state? Let me tell you that I believe that for now it is not good for me to give out the secret of the some of the things we want to do because I don’t want some other person to hijack it.
May be in due course when I become the governor then I tell you but for now I think I better keep it so that people don’t pounce on that and also take it and implement it.
By September 28, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in all the states of the country will be nominating their governorship candidates.
How prepared are you towards September 28, 2018? It is my intention to declare my intent to contest as a governor on the 18th of August, after that we shall go round to tell various delegates that they should please when the nomination comes up in September they should give us the chance because I believe that my records are there for everybody to see and it my intention that when I do that formal declaration to contest I will invite everybody across the country to come and see what we have planned for Gombe state.
What is your take on the political developments in the country as many are changing camps? Well, my own position is very clear; I believe that there is need for people to take caution.
I believe there is need for us to play the game of politics neatly so that people will not be insinuating one or two things.
It is a very unfortunate thing that we are having developments that will not do any good to anybody.
And I believe we can forge ahead and make this country a better place for everybody.
And I pray that we all consolidate our gains so that we shall move forward.
I am worried somehow and I think there is a need for a lot of caution so that we have peace in this country.
The battle for the PDP ticket in Gombe state is going to be for contenders, heavy weights and money bags.
How prepared are you for the race come September 28? You see the name Haruna Garba alone is an institution and everybody in Gombe State knows Haruna Garba very well for his services to the state and the country at large.
I think I have done so many wonderful things for Gombe state including the creation of the state and may be for over forty years now I have been doing that.
We shall meet on the battle field.
What is your slogan for this race? Yes for sure, ours will be surely the consolidation of the gains of what the governor has done so far.
And one of the ways is that we have followed very carefully all the achievements in Gombe.
And our intention is to continue wherever he is going to stop when I become the governor and Gombe state will be truly transformed.
What is your message to Gombe people and Nigerians as the 2019 general election draws nearer? Well, the number one message is that we have got up to 18th of august for people to make sure that they get their voters card.
It is therefore my own appeal to not only people of Gombe but to all Nigerians to appreciate having their own PVC because that is going to be very important to vote for that person you love.
Maritime workers suspend 21-day ultimatum
Stories by Moses John Abuja The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has shelved its 21-day ultimatum issued the federal government over the deplorable state of Oshodi-Apapa expressway.
However, the union has urged federal government to direct Dangote Group to immediately move to site and begin the reconstruction of the said Oshodi- Apapa expressway without further delay.
The union also said that priority attention should be given to the TinCan axis of the road down to Berger because of its importance and level of deterioration.
“We equally call on government to fix other alternative roads and devise effective way of controlling and easing traffic during the reconstruction of the road.
“Most importantly, the government and Dangote Group should ensure that the time frame for the reconstruction of the road is strictly adhered,” MWUN said in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Adeyanju Adewale and the General Secretary, Comrade Felix Ak ingboye.
“We call on the management of NPA to enforce the directive on holding bays by the shipping companies and to withdraw the operating license of any shipping company that fails to comply within a stipulated time,” the workers further demanded.
On the 21-day ultimatum issued over government’s failure to make the access roads to the nation’s seaports, especially the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway motorable, as agreed with it and other stakeholders in February this year, the union said the workers decided to suspend the action due to government approval to reconstruct the road at the cost of N72.
9billion to the Dangote Group in a duration of two years.
“As a union with responsible and patriotic leaders, besides the welfare and wellbeing of our members, the economic growth of our great country is of utmost importance to us.
The aim of the 21-day ultimatum is to draw the attention of the federal government to the deplorable state of the road and ensure that the government makes the road motorable for users.
“Now that the government has shown its readiness to work on the road with the approval of the reconstruction of the road, we have decided to suspend the 21-day ultimatum to allow government focus on the reconstruction of the road
