By Segun Adewale, Bauchi
As Bauchi State celebrates 50th anniversary of the creation of the state on Tuesday, Governor Bala Abdukadir Mohammed stated that the successful take-off and sustained existence of the state since its creation in 1976 were made possible by the vision, courage, and sacrifices of its founding fathers.
Similarly, the state Governo also led top government officials and traditional institutions in a tree planting exercise as part of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the state creation.
The Governor who had earlier in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state, said that the pioneers laid a solid foundation of governance, unity, and development upon which the state continued to stand.
“We honour their legacy and pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to those who have returned to our Creator,” the governor said, describing the Golden Jubilee as a defining moment in the history of the state.
According to him, “The attainment of fifty years of existence by Bauchi State out of which Gombe State was created in 1996—is a profound cause for joy and thanksgiving to Almighty God. Despite political, economic, and social challenges, Bauchi State has endured and progressed. Indeed, the survival and steady growth of a geopolitical entity for fifty years is a remarkable achievement worthy of celebration and reflection.
“The take-off and sustained existence of Bauchi State since 1976 were made possible through the vision and sacrifice of our founding fathers. These patriots laid the solid foundations of governance, unity, and development upon which our State stands today. We honour their legacy and pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to those who have returned to our Creator”
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He pointed out that”Since its creation, Bauchi State has recorded notable progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply, and security. The establishment of schools and colleges, universities, polytechnics, primary healthcare facilities and general hospitals across wards and Local Government Areas, improved road networks, and sustained investment in agriculture reflect decades of collective effort and resilience, even in the face of significant challenges”.
The Governor emphasised that “our collective efforts in the area of security, collaborating with security agencies to protect the lives and property of the citizens, had provided the basis for our sustained peace and development.
“These milestones would not have been possible without the sacrifices of leaders in the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, as well as the dedication of civil servants, traditional and religious institutions, professionals, farmers, traders, women, youths, and the private sector. Bauchi State is, no doubt, a product of shared responsibility. While we honour the past, the present generation must take this Golden Jubilee as a challenge to work harder.
While highlighting the various challenges facing the state and the key measures taken by government to address them, he called on all citizens of the state to emulate the sacrifice, discipline, and commitment of the founding fathers.
“The progress of Bauchi State in the 21st Century will be determined by the quality of our leadership and the sense of responsibility of our citizens. As a Government, we remain committed to building solid foundations that will outlive all of us, in line with our Economic Blueprint “My Bauchi Project” and our Development Agenda as encapsulated in our Development Plan”
Meanwhile,Governor Bala Mohammed has led top government officials and traditional institutions in a tree planting exercise as part of activities commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Bauchi State creation.
Speaking during the exercise held at Bauchi Golden Jubilee Park in the state capital, Governor Bala Mohammed said the initiative was to address environmental challenges threatening livelihoods and public health across communities in the state.
Bala Mohammed who stressed the significance of tree planting exercise, maintained that trees play critical roles in combating desertification, flooding and climate impacts, while supporting biodiversity and long term sustainable development across Bauchi State.
He encouraged residents to plant at least one tree to complement his administration’s ongoing effort to plant five million trees across the twenty local government areas of the state.
The Governor noted that in collaboration with Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL, the state government has established twenty tree nurseries across all local governments as environmental protection strategies aimed at supporting reforestation and jobs creation.
While warning against indiscriminate cutting of trees for commercial purposes, Governor Bala Mohammed stated that the government will not condone such unpatriotic acts undermining conservation laws and community wellbeing across.
Speaking on behalf of traditional institutions, the Emir of Bauchi Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu urged citizens, institutions and partners to sustain environmental stewardship towards achieving a greener and safer environment through collective action.
