Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has broken his silence on the reported rift within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, stating that such claims have no substance.
“However, during my absence, certain things happened that I didn’t like as a person.
“For instance, in APC, we have one party in Jigawa State, and I am committed to maintaining that unity. As leaders, we must remain focused and not allow ourselves to be distracted,” he said.
Reacting shortly after his two-week vacation abroad, he further stated, “We have a mandate, and we need to continue executing that mandate. Nothing should derail us from the mission given to us by the people of Jigawa.
“Not only that, but as a people, we also need to exercise patience with ourselves. There are always groups of people who don’t want things to go well. Whenever progress is being made in ways they don’t like, they try to create confusion and instability. We must not allow such people to succeed.”
He stressed the importance of unity within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State, calling on party members and leaders to remain focused and avoid distractions.
Despite being on annual leave, the governor revealed that he remained actively engaged in discussions on initiatives for the development of the state, disclosing that he held virtual meetings that were beneficial to the state and explored investment opportunities in the Middle East.
“Yes, it was an annual leave, but it was also a working leave. During that time, I held discussions with my team. I had about two virtual meetings with them while I was away. We discussed various issues, including potential investors in the Middle East. I had conversations with some of them, and I instructed my team to prepare the necessary groundwork for their arrival,” he said.
“Some of these investors are set to arrive in the state soon, particularly to invest in agriculture. Others are planning to invest in a modern abattoir, which will significantly boost economic activities in Jigawa. These were some of the key discussions I had during my absence.”
He reiterated his unwavering desire and commitment to seeing the progress and development of Jigawa State as part of fulfilling his electoral promise.
“Wherever we are, we always strive to ensure that we are putting something beneficial in place for Jigawa State because that is part of our mandate. So, even though I was on leave, I remained committed to fulfilling my responsibilities to the state,” he said.
Governor Namadi then praised the people of Jigawa State for their dedication to maintaining peace, unity, and respect for one another, urging them to uphold this lofty virtue.
He added, “Jigawa people are peace-loving individuals, and I urge everyone to continue being their brother’s keeper. Together, we can achieve greatness and ensure a brighter future for our state.”
