Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, Chairman, Conference of Speakers
By Akanji Alowolodu, Gombe
Chairman of Conference of Speakers of States Legislature of Nigeria, Abubakar Y. Suleiman has led members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly to Gombe State to commiserate with the State Government, Gombe State House of Assembly and people of the Sate over the crisis that erupted in Billiri Local Government Area last week which led to lost of lives and properties.
While Speaking at the Gombe State Government House and the State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, the Speakers Chairman explained that Bauchi State House of Assembly and the entire States legislative family in the country were shocked to receive the news of the ugly incident which he said they are deeply pained and saddened not only because lives and properties were lost, but because the long standing peace and harmony that exists between the different tribes and particularly between Muslims and Christians in the State has been strained.
Bauchi State Speaker and Gombe Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, Speaker of Gombe Assembly during the visit
According to him, Gombe people have been known to be tolerant of both their tribal and religious differences, which of course has been responsible for the cherished peaceful co-existence in the State.
Abubakar Suleiman stated that, “We consider Bauchi and Gombe States as one family because Gombe State was created from Bauchi State and the cordial relationship between the two States has been maintained. Whatever happens to Gombe, happens to Bauchi and vice versa. That’s why the State Assembly decided to embark on this visit”.
He added that, “We commend you, Your Excellency, for the swift intervention at ensuring the crisis in Billiri did not escalate. The Curfew you have declared was a right step at curbing the violence”.
He further said that, “We equally thank the security agencies for the professionalism deplored to ensure the crisis did not go out of control and the Gombe State House of Assembly and indeed the individual Honourable Members for the individual efforts they may have deplored to ensure the crisis was put under control.” .
The Speaker called on the people of the State in general and Tangale kingdom in particular to eschew violence and always avoid the temptation of resorting to violence while resolving their differences and enjoined them to live together in peace and harmony; trust leaders and our legal system; and above all, have absolute faith in our Creator, the Almighty God, because, it is by the will of God that a leader always emerges.
In their separate responses, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya who reemphasized the cordial relationship between the two States, thanked the Bauchi lawmakers and the Conference of Speakers for the visit which he described as brotherly.
The Governor who described the Billiri incident as very unfortunate, said nobody in his proper senses will allow such a dastardly act to take place as contained in a statement by Abdul Ahmad Burra, Spokesperson to the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly.
The Governor said that, “As we don’t condone it, I believe so also all reasonable Nigerians because this thing will have spread to other States and the whole Country will have been engulfed in fire for something that’s too ordinary”.
Inuwa Yahaya added that, “We are democrats, there are tenants of democracy, when you are aggrieved, you have the court as your last resort. After all, nothing is done out of legality on this issue that could generate this bad blood except for the hands of the devil that has representation in some of our people”.
“This government will never ever condone illegality, the law will take its cause. Already some people are charged to court while some suspects are being trailed and I believe they will never run from the arms of law, they will be brought to justice” He explained.
The Governor who emphasized the importance of peace, said that peace is what makes democracy and leaders to reign.
On his part, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Abubakar Mohammad Luggerewo expressed the utmost appreciation of the people of Gombe State for the very important visit which he said has shown the brotherhood and partnership existing between the two States.
