By Editor Mahmoud Muhammad of the Northern Star online
The air in Gombe State is thick with political anticipation, and 2007 remains the year that refuses to be forgotten. It was the moment Dr. Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna stood as the only contender willing to face Danjuma Goje’s political machinery head-on.
That lone challenge did not end in victory at the ballot box, but it carved Jamilu’s name into the state’s political history as a man of courage and conviction.
What followed was a strategic pivot that defined his legacy. Instead of fading into opposition, Jamilu pledged wholehearted loyalty to former Governor Abubakar Hashidu, a leader widely respected for his integrity and fairness.
Under Hashidu’s mentorship, Jamilu embraced a governance style rooted in solidarity and equal access for all Gombe citizens, regardless of party or clan.
That philosophy has guided him ever since, shaping a public profile built less on loud rhetoric and more on quiet, consistent action.
Education has been the cornerstone of his interventions. For nearly two decades, Jamilu has sponsored scores of Gombe youths to universities across Nigeria and beyond.
His scholarship scheme targets indigent students from every local government area, ensuring that financial hardship does not cut short academic dreams.
Many of those beneficiaries are now professionals serving in medicine, law, engineering, and education, contributing directly to the state’s development.
Beyond the classroom, Jamilu has created real employment opportunities. He played a pivotal role in securing the recruitment of 2,000 Gombe indigenes into the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO.
The jobs gave families stable incomes and positioned Gombe youths within the country’s power sector at a time when opportunities were scarce.
He also established a skill acquisition program that has trained hundreds in tailoring, welding, carpentry, ICT, and solar technology. Graduates of the program now run small businesses that sustain households across the state.
Jamilu’s influence extends into federal institutions. Through deliberate advocacy, he helped secure appointments for Gombe indigenes in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.
Those placements have given Gombe a stronger presence in national institutions and inspired younger professionals to pursue careers in public service.
What sets Jamilu apart is consistency. While many politicians only appear during election cycles, he has maintained his empowerment programs without seeking constant publicity.
His approach reflects the Hashidu era, where leadership was measured by service delivery and fairness rather than patronage and division.
As 2027 approaches, those attributes have positioned him as Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s preferred successor under the APC consensus arrangement.
The endorsement has sparked debate, with senior figures like Senator Danjuma Goje and Prof. Isa Ali Pantami rejecting the process.
Yet for a growing number of Gombe citizens, Jamilu represents continuity with a human face. He embodies the bridge between the state’s political past and a future defined by inclusion, opportunity, and stability.
The gathering storm in Gombe may ultimately be less about conflict and more about choice: whether the state embraces a leader shaped by two decades of loyalty, fairness, and grassroots investment.
Former Leadership Correspondent in Gombe 2007, can be rich EDITOR MAHMOUD MUHAMMAD contact indagi3792@gmail.com
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