By: John Bassey.
The Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ) has appointed the Kebbi State Governor, His Excellency Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, as its Grand Patron for the Kebbi State Council.
Presenting the certificate to the governor in Abuja to formalize the appointment, the NUJ President, Alhaji Alhassan Yahaya-Abdullahi, said the honor was in recognition of his contribution to unionism as well as the general well-being of his people.
He said: “This investiture is an NEC resolution, it is a resolution of the NEC of Nigerian Union of Journalists, and I believe it is something worthy of emulation.
“Today I am happy that I am presenting this investiture to someone whom we believe has paid his due, someone whom we believe is a comrade, someone whom we believe has done a lot for unionism and struggles.
“I am sure he will continue to do more, especially now that he is serving as the governor of Kebbi State.”
While thanking Almighty Allah for the opportunity to award a comrade to the core who has paid his due in the labor activities, the president urged him to sustain the good spirit.
“Your Excellency, let me begin by thanking you most sincerely for your wonderful policies and projects in Kebbi State. I am from Gombe State, but I have been monitoring you; I have been following your antecedents.
“I have been following your policies and projects, especially in the area of infrastructure; I must commend you in this regard; as journalists, we are monitoring you, and we believe you are doing wonderfully well,” he said.
The president lauded the governor for involving and integrating the traditional institutes by giving them funds to renovate their Emirates, “I am aware of that and I must commend you in that regard.”
Yahaya-Abdullahi also thanked the governor for incorporating and integrating everyone in Kebbi State towards taking the state to greater heights of development.
“Kebbi State happened to be a very big state, but I believe with your support and cooperation, you can incorporate everyone, and today we are all happy; even the opposition parties are in line with your development, in support of your programs, in support of your policies,” he noted.
Responding, Gov. Nasir Idris appreciated the NUJ national leadership for finding him worthy of the position, assuring that his government had been working harmoniously with NUJ in Kebbi State.
He said: “I am not surprised by the working committee in Kebbi State to have worked together, discussed, and agreed to give this wonderful award; this is historic because this is the first award I have received in 2025.
“More so, I want to assure you that in Kebbi, we are one; even the opposition is coming back to APC, and we have been receiving a lot of decampees, and ‘In sha Allah,’ we will not have much opposition by 2027.
“However, we can’t zero our mind and say that we don’t have opposition, but ‘In Sha Allah’ even if there is, it will not be a big opposition. Your request is approved; any time you want to come to Kebbi to hold your meeting, you are welcome.
“Kebbi is a labor state being led by a comrade governor and experienced labor leader, who started from State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Treasurer, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Deputy National President, Nigerians Labour Congress and President, Nigeria Union of Teachers.”
