* IN BROTHERHOOD WE STAND AND REMAIN UNITED AT ALL TIMES…
…The roll-call of men and women of “timber and caliber” from Adamawa State, have always been comprised of very brilliant, very brave, very resilient, very proficient, highly reputable and highly patriotic men and women, right from the First Republic…
…At the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999; and the subsequent emergence of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON/Waziri Adamawa), as Nigeria’s Vice-President (from 1999 – 2007), Adamawa State has consistently remained a formidable power-house in the scheme of things, as far as Nigeria’s political power equilibrium is concerned…
…Adamawa State has emerged as the MOST-GENDER FRIENDLY STATE IN NIGERIA, for being the only state out of the entire thirty-six (36) states of the Federation that has given three (3) vibrant women the opportunity of representing their state and people in the Upper Legislature. They are Senators Folashade Grace Brent, Binta Mashi Garba and Aishatu Dahiru (Binani), who also put up the strongest contest ever, among female Governorship candidates in the annals of Nigeria’s history…
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Adamawa State remains one of Nigeria’s most fertile terrains for high caliber of human capital, from the angle of WHO’s WHO IN NIGERIA, most especially in the top echelon of public administration; cutting across the civil service, military, paramilitary and political leadership.
This is contained in a speech delivered by Dr Dahiru Bobbo, OFR (Dan Madami Adamawa) at a civic reception Thursday in Abuja, being organised by Adamawa Community Association (Abuja) in honour of the illustrious sons and daughters of Adamawa State in key leadership positions.
Bobbo, as chairman of the occasion, affirmed that in brotherhood Adamawa indigenes stand and remain united at all times. He saluted “the vision and commitment of the leadership of Adamawa Community (Abuja), for sustaining this evergreen programme, as this platform continue to bring us together periodically; with the spirit of love and brotherliness, to celebrate our brothers and sisters, who by Divine Grace, have been enjoying the special privilege of holding some strategic public offices, under different political dispensations. Therefore, our gathering here today is another milestone, regardless of our different political affiliations”.
Read below the full text of the chairman’s speech:
WELCOME ADDRESS BY ALHAJI (DR.) DAHIRU BOBBO (OFR/DAN MADAMI ADAMAWA) AT THE SPECIAL CIVIC RECEPTION TO HONOUR SOME ILLUSTRIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ADAMAWA STATE IN KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, ORGANIZED BY ADAMAWA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (ABUJA), HELD AT MARYAM BABANGIDA NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT, ABUJA, ON SATURDAY, 11TH NOVEMBER, 2023
Protocols….
When the executives of Adamawa Community, Abuja, the organizers of this epoch event approached me with the invitation to be the chairman of this special programme, I could not decline, even though my schedules are a little bit tight, as I am making necessary preparations for my second investiture ceremony as Doctor of Letters (D. Litt Honorary Causa); this time, by the University of Maiduguri, where I earlier had the privilege and honour of being the pioneer Registrar. The event is just in the next one week.
First and foremost, I warmly salute the vision and commitment of the leadership of Adamawa Community (Abuja), for sustaining this evergreen programme, as this platform continue to bring us together periodically; with the spirit of love and brotherliness, to celebrate our brothers and sisters, who by Divine Grace, have been enjoying the special privilege of holding some strategic public offices, under different political dispensations. Therefore, our gathering here today is another milestone, regardless of our different political affiliations. IN BROTHERHOOD WE STAND AND REMAIN UNITED AT ALL TIMES. On this ground, I make bold to say that we are all very proud of all our honorees, who are being celebrated today.
At this juncture, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to say with high sense of responsibility, pride and patriotism, that Adamawa State is without doubt, one of Nigeria’s most fertile terrains for high caliber of human capital, from the angle of WHO’s WHO IN NIGERIA, most especially in the top echelon of public administration (cutting across the civil service, military, paramilitary and political leadership).
In fact, the roll-call of men and women of “timber and caliber” from Adamawa State, have always been comprised of very brilliant, very brave, very resilient, very proficient, highly reputable and highly patriotic men and women, right from the First Republic, with front-line and visionary elder statesmen and political leaders like, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu, who was often called the “de facto Prime-Minister and the first Minister for Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (Lagos), as at then.” At the same time, he was also the 2nd National Vice-President of the defunct Northern People’s Congress (NPC), whilst late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (the then Prime-Minister) was the 1st National Vice-President. Therefore, both of them were deputies to late Sir Ahmadu Bello (then Sardauna of Sokoto). I do not want to drain you with the long list of names of other great men and women of yesteryears, who equally represented the present-day Adamawa State very well. Of course, they are all very well known to us.
However, at the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999; and the subsequent emergence of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON/Waziri Adamawa), as Nigeria’s Vice-President (from 1999 – 2007), Adamawa State has consistently remained a formidable power-house in the scheme of things, as far as Nigeria’s political power equilibrium is concerned, till today.
For instance, under the last administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), Adamawa State produced the First Lady, Her Excellency (Dr.) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and 2 SGFs (Engr. Babchir Lawal and Barr. (Dr.) Boss Gida Mustapha, CFR), among other crucial positions held by some of our illustrious brothers and sisters in the previous government. Therefore, it is not in doubt that Adamawa State will soon clinch the exalted seat of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the special grace of Allah (SwT). We shall all soon gather to celebrate the victory in no distant time, IN SHAA ALLAH.
In addition, kindly permit me to also put it on record that since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Adamawa State has emerged as the MOST-GENDER FRIENDLY STATE IN NIGERIA, for being the only state out of the entire thirty-six (36) states of the Federation that has given three (3) vibrant women the opportunity of representing their state and people in the Upper Legislature. They are Senators Folashade Grace Brent, Binta Mashi Garba and Aishatu Dahiru (Binani), who also put up the strongest contest ever, among female Governorship candidates in the annals of Nigeria’s history (Applause!).
At this juncture, I will like to task the leadership of Adamawa Community (Abuja), to earnestly put a strategic think-tank in place, for the production of a special documentary on WHO’S WHO IN ADAMAWA STATE. In the same vein, I also charge the Adamawa State Government to quickly put necessary machinery in motion, for the speedy actualization of this legacy project. Moreover, it will also not be out of place, for us to have ADAMAWA HALL OF FAME, which will serve as a veritable resource centre and major source of inspiration and direction for us. By so doing, we would be able to effectively preserve the legacies and memories of our founding-fathers and emerging leaders, from one generation to another.
My speech will be incomplete without a word of appreciation to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), President and C-in-C, Federal Republic of Nigeria; for so far, appointing some of our highly respected, patriotic and well-celebrated brothers and sisters, like:
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, mni, as National Security Adviser
Ms. Delu Bulus Yakubu as SSA to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN), OON, as Hon. Minister of Education
Major Gen Paul C. Tarfa (Rtd), CON, as Chairman, NEDC
Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, Rtd, (OFR,CON) as Chairman/CEO, NDLEA
Alhaji Ahmed Galadima Aminu as Executive Secretary/CEO, PTDF
Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, mni, as PS, Federal Ministry of Information
Comrade Abdulhamid Dembos as DG, NTA
Dr. Clifford Zira as Federal Commissioner, NPC
Prof. Mohammed Raji as CMD, National Hospital, Abuja
In the meantime, we await more federal appointments for Adamawa State, from Mr. President, in order to properly balance the equation.
Equally, I salute and warmly congratulate our own dynamic Governor, His Excellency, Rt-Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, CON (Executive Governor of Adamawa State), for his second-term electoral victory. I wish you and the entire public and political office-holders in Adamawa State continuous divine guidance, protection and blessings of Allah (SWT).
In conclusion, I am very delighted to also congratulate all our federal legislators, for their electoral victories and for making us proud by their composure and spirit of patriotism. Last but not the least, I say a big THANK YOU to all the good people of Adamawa State, who actively and peacefully participated in the last General Elections in the state. I therefore, appeal to them to continue to support and pray for the success of all those whom Allah (SWT) has given the opportunity to lead and represent us in various capacities.
On this note, ladies and gentlemen, in honour of our illustrious brothers and sisters, whose sterling and most-enviable achievements bring us together, here today, I wish to request all of us, to kindly RISE AND GIVE THEM A VERY WARM AND ELECTRIFYING OVATION, as a token of our collective appreciation to them, for making us and the entire people of Adamawa State proud; for being our ambassadors and flag-bearers.
Thank you for coming and may Allah (SwT) bless you all. Amin!
Long live, Federal Republic of Nigeria !
Long live, Adamawa State !!
Long live, Adamawa Community Association (Abuja) !!!
DR. DAHIRU BOBBO, OFR
(Dan Madami Adamawa)