The governor had supported extending the tenure of the president and some governors.

Ibrahim also urged for reconciliation among citizens of the state in a broadcast to people to mark this year’s democracy day celebration.
He said: “Now that the constitutional amendment issue is over, we shall tolerate those who betrayed our support for it and reconcile, for tolerance is a mark of maturity.

“At this point I feel it is appropriate for me to set the ball rolling by offering forgiveness to all those, who were against us as a result of the patriotic position we took in support of constitutional amendment,’’ the governor said.

He called on those who did not support his stand to accept reconciliation, adding: “All must put divergent views behind, step out to mend the wounds of acrimony so that we can match forward.”
However, he commended his party loyalists from the 17 local government areas who converged at the Government House, Damaturu, to support his failed attempt to ensure there was constitutional amendment.

The governor had been in the forefront of the promoters for constitutional changes that would facilitate tenure elongation for the president and governors until it was thrown out by the National Assembly.

At the peak of his clamour for the change, the governor had accused past leadership of being unfair in the provision of amenities and infrastructure to the North-East since independence, but for President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He had also described his initial criticism of the PDP administration as a mistake until he changed opinion recently to support President Obasanjo’s long term development policies.

Meanwhile, the Yobe government says it has spent about N14.9 billion on the construction of roads and drainage in the last seven years.In a broadcast to people of the state to mark this year’s democracy day, Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim said N3.8 billion was expended on the construction of roads and drainages in Damaturu metropolis.

He said another two billion naira was spent on the Nguru-Machina road.
Ibrahim said the 100 km Gujba-Ngalda road was executed at the cost of N2 billion, while the 55 km Katasko-Goniri road gulped N1.1 billion and that another N1.5 billion was spent on the Geidam-Bougamari road.
He said the Nguru-Gashua road and the extension of the Karage road, gulped N600 million, while the road that would link the state and Niger Republic gulped N700 million.

He said the construction of township roads in Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru had gulped N1.5 billion.

According to the governor, we will not spare funds in the development of the state through the construction of road networks, especially considering that it will improve socio-economic activities.
In the area of commerce and industry, he said within the past seven years a fertilizer blending plant, a plastic factory, woven sack industry, abattoir, spring water plant and soda ash plant were provided.

“Arrangements are on to establish a cassava plant, a diary plant, as well as processing plants for onions, tomatoes and sesame, while a cement factory will be established,’’ he added.
The governor also explained that the decision to earmark N502 million for the construction of a three star hotel was to attract investors and tourists.

He said: “My administration will provide land for those, who intend to invest here without too much bureaucracy’’.