It is only in a democratic setting that people have the right and freedom to criticise wrong doings or shortcomings of an elected government. But at the same time, if the government has delivered on its mandate, fairness requires that it be commended as well.

In Gombe State where various developmental projects have been executed and implemented across the state, it becomes necessary to comment positively about the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo-led administration.

It is therefore regrettable that despite the giant strides of the Gombe State administration, the state was listed as the third poorest in the country. It would have augured well if such development monitors had come to the state to assess the level of development before concluding their rating. It leaves one wondering whether their assessment is not aimed at causing mischief and unnecessary scandal.

The politics of Gombe State has today taken a new dimension. Transparency and accountability have become the hallmark of the Dankwambo administration. The governor made this yardstick a must because of some selfish politicians who had been working round the clock to undermine the leadership style of the governor, despite his efforts at revamping state's economy.

Some politicians are hell bent in ensuring that Governor Dankwambo is distracted from the business of governance. Unfortunately for such detractors, the people can read between the lines and are determined to work and support the state administration in its task of developing the state.

Ironically, most of the detractors are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - a case of dog eat dog. But Dankwambo's style of steering the affairs of government has convinced even opposition elements to the extent that some of them have embraced the policies of his government. Afterall, good governance, transparency, focused and visionary leadership cannot be hidden.

Before the current administration came on board, political hawks in Gombe had a field day manipulating the machinery of government and tinkering with public funds. Then came Dankwambo with the sermon of justice, equity, and fairness in a government where the rule of law determines the function and performance in all the ministries, departments and agencies.

The Dankwambo administration has established various initiatives that would bring about rapid development in the state; it abolished the mentality of dirty politics; hence creating a level playing ground for true democracy to nurture.

Though Gombe is of one of the states that receive the least allocation from the federation account, it remains one of the fastest developing states in the country. Yet, the governor being a professional accountant has been able to manage the little resources and embark on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.

As a grassroots politician, he was able to organise interactive sessions at the constituency level in each local government area with a view to broadening stakeholder participation in the formulation of policies that would enjoy general acceptability of the people.

He has embarked on the completion of all on-going projects and initiated new ones that are considered as critical to the lives of the people, and has declared a state of emergency in the education sector. He has also done well in diversifying productive base of the state economy through enhanced capacity utilization, increased agricultural productivity and accelerated development of non-oil sectors.

In the critical sectors of Works and Infrastructure, Governor Dankwambo has built about 70 township roads in urban and semi-urban areas and invested in regional roads linking commercial centres with rural communities so that agricultural products could easily move to the market.

In seeking to end the rot in the education sector, the governor has embarked on the rebuilding of all dilapidated primary and secondary schools in the state so as to create conducive environment for teaching and learning. His administration has also evolved a policy that limits the number of students in boarding schools to 1000, the number of students in day schools to 1500 and the number of students per class to 40.

Dankwambo has also provided a second chance for those with GCE O-level or WAEC to remedy their deficiencies by establishing two campuses for remedial studies in Kumu and Dukku respectively in affiliation with the Gombe State University and University of Maiduguri.

Also established are the State Polytechnic in Bajoga, State College of Education in Billiri and School of Legal and Islamic Studies in Nafada. He also accredited the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe and the School of Health Technology, Kaltungo respectively.

Dankwambo has invested huge amount of money to boost and improve the agricultural sector. This has helped greatly in stimulating the agricultural potentials of the state by promoting commercial farming through the provision of farm equipment.

Governor Dankwambo's administration has remained committed to the development of the rural areas, in terms of access roads, potable water and electricity. All these he has done to position the state to be one of the best three states in the federation by the year 2015.

-Badamasi wrote in from Dawaki Quarters, Gombe