Deputy Governor of Yobe State sworn in as Governor
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- Category: Latest
- Published on Wednesday, 28 January 2009 17:49
- Written by Administrator
Deputy Governor of Yobe State Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam was sworn in as the governor yesterday, hours after the state government officially confirmed the passing away of his boss, Senator Mamman Bello Ali. Geidam was sworn-in at 4.10pm at the Government House’s Council Chambers in Damaturu. The oath was administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Baba Saja Gujba.
The swearing in of the new governor took place less than 12 hours after the demise of Senator Ali. The deputy, who was in Abuja to attend a scheduled meeting of the National Economic Council, returned to Yobe immediately for the swearing-in.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Ibrahim Geidam said he was shocked by the death of his former boss. “I received the sad news of Senator Mamman Ali’s death with great shock. You may recall that the chief judge of Yobe State has just administered the oath of allegiance on me to serve as the executive governor of Yobe State.
In accepting the great burden now placed on me in conformity with Section 191 Subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the executive governor of Yobe State, I pledge to serve and discharge my duties in accordance with the law without fear or favour,” Geidam said.
The new governor, who spoke in a low and sober tone, added: “It now beholds on me to pray to Almighty Allah to grant the soul of our late governor eternal rest and reward him with Aljannah Firdaus. I also pray to God to grant us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
“It is a known fact that the late executive governor of Yobe Senator Mamman Ali died while in active patriotic service to our beloved state. We shall continue to remember him for his pragmatic and innovative leadership and transparent stewardship while at the helm of affairs of the state.”
Governor Geidam added that “we salute his honesty, trustworthiness, fearlessness, resourcefulness, commitment and open door policy towards creating a prosperous state where all of us would be proud of.”
The new governor said Yobe people should always remember Senator Ali for his leadership qualities.
“I wish to say that the most befitting way to honour and remember him is to uphold his ideas, values and ethics which he inspired in us in an effort to create national consciousness. Fellow Yobeans, I call on you to bear this tragedy with courage and perseverance, for Allah has stated in the Holy Qur’an that every life shall taste death. This is the time for sober reflection and prayers. May the Almighty Allah in his infinite mercies and compassion reduce our grief as we face our collective resolve and aspiration to ensure continuous and speedy socio-economic development of our dear state, Yobe.”
“In this regard, I wish to call on all good people to remain fully committed and ensure full and successful implementation of government policies and progr-amme to move our state to greater heights.”
The new governor also declared seven days’ mourning starting from yesterday in honour of the late governor.
The new Governor Ibrahim Geidam was born on 15th September, 1956 in Bukarti village, Yunusari local government area in the old Borno, now Yobe state. He was said to have been named Ibrahim Geidam, due to his strong childhood affiliation with Geidam localg-overnment area, neighb-ouring Yunusari, his place of origin.
He was at the Yunusari Primary School from 1963 to 1969 and Borno Teachers’ College, Maidu-guri from 1974 to 197.
Ibrahim Geidam entered the Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U), Zaria for a Diploma in Accountancy between 1981 and 1983 and returned to ABU in 1987 for a B.SC Accountancy, which he acquired in 1990. Geidam later became a full member, Certified Public Accountants (CPA) of Nigeria.
He began his working career as a class Grade 11 teacher. He later left teaching to become an audit officer, before rising to the position of an accountant, during which he served in different ministries in the old Borno State. Following the creation of Yobe State in 1991, Geidam rose to assistant and deputy director, Finance, Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure [DFFRI].
He later became acting director, finance and supply, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs and Culture. His confirmation as director, finance and supply came after he was moved to the Rural Electrification Board, R.E.B. Yobe.
Ibrahim Geidam temporarily left the civil service in 1995 when he was appointed the Commissioner for Youths and Sports. He served for two years, from 1995 to 1997.
He returned to the civil service as Director, Final Accounts in the state’s ministry of finance, where he worked very briefly. He was later moved to the ministry of health as director, finance and supply from 1997 to 1999. He served in many ministries from 1999 to February, 2007.
In between however, Ibrahim Geidam had wanted becoming a Senator, as he contested the ANPP primaries for the Yobe East senatorial seat during a bye election, which followed the death of Senator Adamu Adamu who died while in the Senate. Geidam lost the primaries and was later selected as running mate to Senator Ali in the 2007 governorship elections. Kanuri by tribe, tall and with a huge body frame, new governor Ibrahim Geidam is married with children.
