Segun Babatunde in Bauchi,
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commended Bauchi State Governor,Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed over the developmental projects executed by his administration in the state over a short period of time.
He also said that he enjoyed a good working relationship with him when he was Minister of federal Capital territory.
The Former President stated this yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu at his palace and to commission the newly constructed Sabon Kaura road in Bauchi.
Gooduck Jonathan said that he never knew Governor Bala Mohammed when he made him the Minister of the federal capital territory, adding that even though it is a culture in Nigeria to give political appointments based personal relationship, it was not his own way of doing things.
According to him, “Bala Mohammed is a son and younger brother, even when he was a Minister, he worked with commitment and I gave him a free hand to run the ministry. I want to use this opportunity to also thank the good people of Bauchi for supporting my good son, you have done very well in supporting him. It could have been difficult for him to win the election without your support”
“Since I left office, this is the first time I am coming to Bauchi State.I came to visit Governor Bala Mohammed and commission a road project that was named after me. I am grateful for immortalizing my name and my links with Bauchi emirate by naming a road after me.When an infrastructure is named after you, it is something you cannot devalue, even if you die, the name still remains there”
“Within this period that Bala Mohammed is Governor, I have been asking questions,even in my meetings with him.He has done quite a number of projects that I wonder where the money comes from. Before coming, I tried to get a list of all the key projects he has done and when I looked through, I was marveled myself, because these days, the economic environment is not that friendly.It is not easy for a governor to raise money and execute all these projects” he said
Earlier in his address, Governor Bala Abdulkadri Mohammed while welcoming the August Visitor to the state, said that Former President Goodluck Jonathan was instrumental in his coming to limelight in Nigeria, adding that the former President made him Minister without knowing him or belonging to the same party.
“The former President Goodluck Jonathan really impacted on me and other youths in Nigeria by giving me responsibility and by so doing, he has given me a burden to carry his name on my head, that I must perform anywhere I went because he did not give me that position by my own incline or anybody seeking for it on my behalf. He has shown democracy and when we lost, he has continued to be my father” Governor Mohammed said
Responding, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu thanked the former president for honouring the invitation to commission the road project in the state, saying that he has always lived an exemplary life which people in the country look up to, even after leaving office. END
