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Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has sworn in 23 commissioners, alongside newly appointed Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries, charging them to begin work immediately and warning that his administration will not tolerate corruption, abuse of office or indiscipline.

The swearing-in ceremony was held on Saturday at the International Conference Centre in Gombe.

Addressing the new appointees, Yahaya urged them to serve with integrity, diligence and accountability, stressing that with less than one year left in his administration, there was no time to waste.

He said the commissioners were appointed based on merit while ensuring fair representation across the state’s Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.

According to the governor, the new cabinet members have a duty to faithfully implement government policies and help deliver the administration’s development agenda before the end of its tenure.

Yahaya also made it clear that his administration would remain focused on governance rather than engaging in political battles ahead of future elections.

Instead, he said, the government would rely on its achievements in office to earn the confidence and support of the people.

The governor commended the Gombe State House of Assembly for the speedy screening and confirmation of the commissioner nominees, describing the cordial relationship between the executive and legislature as a major factor behind the successes recorded over the past seven years.

He also praised the state’s Permanent Secretaries for ensuring uninterrupted governance following the dissolution of the State Executive Council in April 2026, noting that public services continued seamlessly throughout the transition period.

Yahaya charged the newly appointed Special Advisers to provide strategic policy direction and innovative ideas, while urging the Permanent Secretaries to uphold professionalism, efficiency and fiscal discipline.

He stressed that close collaboration between political office holders and career civil servants remains essential to the success of his administration.

The governor warned all the new appointees against corruption, misuse of public office and any form of misconduct, reminding them that leadership is a public trust that must always be exercised in the interest of the people.

He also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support the new officials in advancing the state’s development agenda.

Reflecting on his administration’s achievements, Yahaya said his government had delivered infrastructure, improved public services and implemented socio-economic development projects across all 240 wards in Gombe State over the past seven years.

He expressed confidence that the administration’s performance would remain its strongest campaign message ahead of future elections.

The governor also assigned portfolios to the 23 commissioners, with Abdulkadir Mohammed Waziri heading the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Prof. Aishatu Umaru Maigari taking charge of Education, Muhammad Gambo Magaji overseeing Finance and Economic Development, Prof. Danladi Adamu Bojude leading the Health Ministry, Dr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu heading Works and Infrastructure, and Yusuf Abdu Kwadon assuming responsibility for Youth and Sports Development, among other appointments.

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Former presidential campaign photographer to Peter Obi, Esther Umoh, has shared photos showing the 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate shopping at a supermarket in Abuja.

The images, posted on her account on Saturday, captured Obi purchasing a few personal items before interacting with members of staff and other shoppers.

The outing comes months after the former Anambra State governor attracted widespread attention when he was seen buying groundnuts at the Utako Market in Abuja in a video that went viral on social media.

Sharing details of the visit, Umoh said Obi stopped at a branch of H-Medix Supermarket to pick up some personal necessities.

“Peter Obi today stopped by a branch of H-Medix Supermarket to pick up a few personal items,” she wrote.

She said the visit reflected what she described as Obi’s close connection with everyday Nigerians, arguing that his interactions with ordinary citizens give him firsthand insight into the economic realities facing many households.

“By experiencing the same markets, prices, and economic conditions as everyone else, he gains a firsthand understanding of the challenges families face daily,” she stated.

According to Umoh, Obi also took time to engage warmly with supermarket employees and fellow shoppers during the visit.

“He also took out time to interact warmly with members of staff and fellow shoppers. A reminder that leadership is ultimately about staying connected to the people you serve,” she added.

Obi served as governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014. He contested the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party candidate and is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.

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Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, of Anambra State has issued a stern challenge to the youth, demanding they reject the scourge of cultism and obscene materialism in favor of the intellectual and moral integrity championed by the late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe.

Speaking at the unveiling of a monumental statue dedicated to the author of Things Fall Apart at the Nwasike Roundabout, Ogidi, Governor Soludo framed the tribute not merely as a celebration of the past, but as a roadmap for the future.

According to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor stated, “Today, we go back to the root; that Chinua Achebe, though dead, he lives. His ideals will continue to shape society.

This statue is a declaration. For me, we should immortalise and celebrate him, and for the young, to put him forward as a role model. He is a man I can proudly call a role model, so much so that even my second son was named ‘Chinua‘”.

He said the governor did not mince words regarding the current state of Idemili North, historically the home of the literary giant.

He lamented the rise of cult-related elements in the area, stating, “Idemili North is something for which, if Chinua Achebe were alive, he would be crying.

Anybody in a cult is, in a way, insulting the memory of Chinua Achebe. Those who brandish obscene wealth—Chinua Achebe told us it is not the way to go.”

Governor Soludo emphasised that the monument serves as a permanent, public conscience for the state. “Remember the message behind this statue: he lived and told us the right way to live,” he urged.

“By this statue we are unveiling today, Nigerian youths will derive inspiration and be determined to live by those values. May God give us many more Chinua Achebes in various fields,” the Governor remarked.

Reflecting on the magnitude of the literary legend, the Governor added, “He is the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T). We named the airport in his honor, and it is very fitting, I must say.”

Aburime added that the ceremony, which brought together scholars, traditional rulers, and government officials, marks another significant step in the Soludo administration’s efforts to cement Achebe’s legacy within the state’s cultural fabric.

This follows the 2023 renaming of the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport in honor of the writer.

Representing the Achebe family, his son, Professor Ike Achebe expressed deep appreciation for the state’s continued dedication to his father’s memory.

The event also featured tributes from the Mayor of Idemili North, Engr. Stanley Nkwoka, and the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, both of whom stressed the urgency of preserving Achebe’s intellectual trajectory for the next generation.