‘My policy of carrying everyone along, heralds a new beginning in Adamawa’-Fintiri.

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on Thursday, thumped his chest with pride to say that he has been able to grow the infrastructure and social services of the state beyond the expectation of both friends and opponents of his government.

 

The governor, who spoke at a special ceremony at Nyako Civic centre, Yola, where he gave an account of stewardship of the two years and some months he has spent in the office, said the state had witnessed massive infrastructure development and a vast improvement in social services in a manner that was clear to all.

 

He said his administration policies of carrying everyone along irrespective of tribe, religion herald a new beginning in Adamawa.

 

Fintiri said his administration had restored security in the state, making Adamawa one of the safest states in Nigeria today.

 

Read the full statement below:

 

1. On behalf of the Government and People of Adamawa state of Nigeria, I salute you as you preside over the citizen summit on security, integration and peace. I assure you of the full support and cooperation of the Adamawa people.

 

2. I also wish to extend our commendation to the Chairman, NIPR and the coordinator, Adamawa state summit and place on record Adamawa’s appreciation for their focused and committed leadership of the NIPR.

 

3. This Summit is coming at a particularly trying period when our world faces several security and critical challenges, making it imperative for us to work round the clock to address them meaningfully.

 

4. It is therefore apt that the theme, citizen summit on integration peace and security: Setting the Stage, signposts our desire and determination to actively cooperate for the improvement of the overall welfare and well-being of the most vulnerable citizens of Adamawa in terms of security especially from 2015 till the inception of my administration.

 

5. The Government and people of Adamawa state appreciate the consultative nature of my administration as it has brought about most of the peace we will achieve since we came on board regarding the farmers and herders clash that was rampant within the state before my tenure.

 

6. A significant highlight of this process, which has increased national ownership of the agenda, is eradicating sectionalism and ethnic bigotry as the overarching principle in formulating the successor framework.

 

7. As I had cause to say to this Summit, 2019 is not a destination but only a milestone to a better, safer Adamawa state. Let us, therefore, renew our commitment to the processes that will develop the post-insecurity framework.

 

Distinguish Guest,

8. This objective is particularly relevant to us in Adamawa, where the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, and lack of cohesion continue to attract political leadership’s attention.

 

9. The good news is that in the last two years and a few months of my administration, sustained cohesion among my government and all the ethnic group in the state has made a significant difference in governance processes, institutions, and structures.

 

Today, we have a renascent Adamawa that has moved away from the era of sectionalism and lack of cohesion to a new dawn where the ideals of good governance and an emphasis on human rights and justice are beginning to drive state-society relations.

 

This is the present reality of Adamawa that must replace the old prejudices and assumptions about the state.

 

10. We are firm in our conviction that security and cohesion among the people of Adamawa state under my watch is fundamental to achieving the requisite stability that will enable the realization of a sustainable post-insecurity development agenda in Adamawa
11. This emergent Adamawa will require the continued support and partnership of NIPR and other media agencies. An Adamawa state that is no longer merely a destination for religious, herder and farmers crisis but one that is involved in constructive, multi-sectoral exchanges on the Nigeria states. Our government stands ready to continue to engage the best of practice in tackling insecurity and marginalization, which is responsible for most cases of communal conflicts in formulating a development agenda that will guarantee peace, security and stability.

 

12. I wish to express my appreciation for Adamawa state selection of this Summit on Integration peace and security.

 

13. The importance of this Summit cannot be overstated. For the post-insecurity development agenda to be realistic in Adamawa, it must be backed by a robust security strategy framework which I hope will receive the strong backing of NIPR more endowed members.

 

Distinguish Guest,

14. My administration commitment to sustainable peace and security propels the state to action and supports all security agencies whenever stability is threatened in Adamawa. In recent years, Adamawa has had its share of conflicts, notably in Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk and Song.

 

15. It is noteworthy that My administration, with the support of the security agencies, has demonstrated the capacity to work in concert and decisively pursue long-term solutions in the affected local governments.

 

While a lot more still needs to be done, we are convinced that progress is being made.

 

16. The current policies of carrying everyone along by this administration herald a new beginning that translates into peace and prosperity for us as people and provides a more robust basis for stability within the state.

 

Distinguish Guest,

17. Adamawa continues to support the organization’s efforts like the NIPR in addressing the initiative to combat the menace of insecurity and lack of cohesion. We have redoubled efforts to address this demanding challenge within our state.

 

Distinguish Guest,

18. Lack of cohesion and integration constitutes a major threat to peace and security and undermines the capacity for sustained development. In Adamawa, the threat of insecurity in a few local governments of our state has proven to be a challenge to stability.

 

We will spare no effort in addressing this menace. Therefore, we are confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law.

 

19. I would like to record its appreciation to the security agencies for their support in this regard. The reign of crime anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity.

 

20. Our state and country continue to be confronted by pressing problems and threats. No statement that will be made during this SummitSummit can exhaust the extent of these problems.

 

The people look to us, as leaders, to provide hope amid crisis, to provide guidance through complex socio-political divisions, and to ensure that we live in a better world.

 

21. We have obligations to the present generation. Still, we have a more outstanding obligation to generations yet unborn who should one day inherit Adamawa state of sufficiency irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or where they reside.

 

We must work to make the state reality in recognition of our common heritage.

 

22. We must strive to eradicate lack of cohesion, insecurity, peace and human misery; We must dedicate ourselves to working together to address global, regional and national challenges and deliver a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous state for all. It is our duty. We must not fail.

 

23. I thank you.