SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ZAMFARA STATE, HONOURABLE (DR) BELLO MOHAMMED, MON, (MATAWALLEN MARADUN), DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF 2019 DEMOCRACY DAY, HELD ON 12TH JUNE 2019
2.
In commemorating this great
day, I wish to pay a special tribute to the heroes of our democratic struggles,
some of whom have paid dearly with their lives for the rest of us to live in a
free society governed on democratic principles. One of the doyens of the
struggles, and indeed our modern-day Nigerian democracy, is no other person
than Chief Masood MKO Abiola, for whose honour Nigeria's Democracy Day was
changed from May 29 to June 12. The event of June 12 and the subsequent
struggles for reversion to civilian rule were the precursors to today's
democracy. May the soul of Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari
and other heroes of our democracy who departed to the great-beyond rest in
peace.
3. My
dear people of Zamfara State, this is
the first Democracy Day celebration to be markedby my administration.Let me,
therefore, use this spectacular opportunity to reiterate our commitment to
addressing the critical issues hampering efforts at achieving the much-desired
development of our dear state,and repositioning it to tread upon the path of
meaningful and sustainable progress.
4. As
I mentioned time and again since my inauguration, fighting banditry and other
crimes which have beleaguered our state for many years is the topmost priority
of my administration. Within the past few days, I met President Muhammadu
Buhari and discussed extensively on the challenge at hand. Part of the fall out
of the visit was the directive of Mr President for the deployment of additional
two mobile police squadrons to the state.
5. I
also conferred with security chieftains both in the state and in Abuja; I
discussed with the immediate past Minister of Defence and a host of other
relevant stakeholders to fashion out a workable strategy that will lead to the
defeat of this wave of crimes soonest. As I am talking to you now, we have
started reaping the benefits of our efforts towards achieving peace and
security in the state.I assure you that in the coming days, we shall continue
to unfold the strategy of this administration towards securing our state,
returning normalcy, and promoting the wellbeing of our people.
6. I
also use this opportunity to, again, call on all those who decided to toe the
path of crime to hands-off, embrace peace and legal means of livelihood. We are
ready to rehabilitate those who accept peace and reintegrate them into the larger
society.
7. It
is a fervent mission of my administration to make our democracy a beacon of
hope and a succour to our people, irrespective of their socio-economic status
or political leanings. We will continue
to work to give opportunities to the people to excel in life, give hope to the
less privileged, and strengthen the state institutions to function effectively
and efficiently. Our goal is to make
Zamfara State great and its people happier and prosperous.
8. In
pursuit of this goal, this administration considers the development of
agriculture as one of its topmost objectives. I stated in my inaugural address
that we were going to revitalize
Bakalori Irrigation Project in order to promote food security by making
agricultural production all year round and also utilise the turbines installed
at the dam to generate electricity for our people and the surviving industries.
In addition, I informed you of the arrangements to promote the cultivation of
palm trees in collaboration with foreign experts. Only last week I visited the
Zamfara State Fertilizer Blending Plant where I inspected its equipment and
discussed with its management on ways of resuscitating the plant. I assure you
that very soon the plant will resume production. I want to use this opportunity to reassure
you of the commitment of my administration to meeting this vital objective of revolutionising
agriculture in the state.
9. We
acknowledge the fact that fighting poverty in the state requires a
multidimensional approach which includes revamping agriculture, resuscitating
skills acquisition programme, improving salaries and welfare packages for
workers, creating a conducive environment for start-ups, and small and medium
scale businesses to thrive. Already,
plans are in the pipeline for revamping of all skills acquisition centres
across the state to inculcate useful skills to our people for self-reliance. My
administration is also passionately committed to creating the enabling
environment for businesses to flourish all over the state. I remember with much
passion the position of Gusau as one of the acclaimed commercial hubs in the
north, which attracted people from all over the country and beyond. The sorry
state-of-affairs today is lamentable. This administration is determined to
restore the lost commercial and industrial glory of the state.
10. As
part of the efforts of the restoration of this glory, my administration will
soon flag-off the construction of an airport in Gusau, which would be executed
through a public-private partnership. Needless to say, a modern transportation
infrastructure like airport will facilitate trade, ease security risks
associated with road transport and link the state with the global community.
11. We believe democracy is not all about
elections and protecting civil and political rights of the citizenry, but also
addressing the economic and social needs of the people. It is all about good
governance and visionary initiatives that promote peace, happiness and
development. This is what makes democracy to have a universal appeal. Our idea of democracy revolves around these
lines, and we are fully committed to the pursuit of these ideals.
12. Our
people could only appreciate the meaning and value of democracy in terms of the
good things it brings to their lives. Democracy has no meaning when hunger is
ravaging our communities, when people could not sleep in their houses with eyes
closed, and when reactionary forces of ethnicity and greed threaten the very
fabric of our collective existence. Ours, therefore, is an all-inclusive
government that will go along with
all those who mean well for the state. We shall promote the values that unite
us together as Hausa and Fulani communities, while at the same time
intensifying efforts to defeat the miscreants that have made life difficult for
our people.
13. Finally,
I would like to use this opportunity to once again thank the good people of
Zamfara State, those here with us and those at home, for your incredible
support to our new administration. We are indeed happy with the level of
enthusiasm shown by well-meaning people of the state for our administration to
succeed. We thank you for your prayers
and goodwill.
14. I
wish you a happy Democracy Day celebration.
15. God bless Zamfara State.
16. God bless Nigeria.
17. Thank you. WassalamuAlaikum.
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