Muhammadu Yahaya, the governor of Gombe State, has been chosen to lead the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The 19 northern governors unanimously chose the governor during the forum’s meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau State, retires on May 29. Yahaya succeeds him.
Yahaya pledged to uphold the faith that his colleagues from different parties had placed in him in his acceptance speech, which was made available by the Director-General, Press Affairs Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli.
In accordance with the goals of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, he gave his fellow northern governors the assurance that he would work hard to build on the achievements of his forebears.
In order for our people to experience the benefits of the good governance we all strive for, he said, “We will work hard to ensure that we catch up with the rest of the country and possibly with the developed parts of the world.”
He expressed happiness that oil drilling operations had started in the Lake Chad Basin, adding three new drilling locations to the North.
He continued, “The forum will see to it that exploration of the significant oil and gas deposits in the North actually takes place for the benefit of the people.
He asserts that the North contains solid minerals in addition to oil and gas deposits that could be used for everyone’s benefit.