Thousands of friends and supporters of former Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo thronged the Kaduna International Airport, defying rain and thunderstorm, to receive him as he returned to his home state after a five-year stint as the number two citizen of the country.
The presidential plane conveying the vice president touched the ground around 7pm on Friday amidst heavy downpour.
Despite the heavy rain, the former vice president alighted from the plane to the warm embrace of his massive supporters who drove him to his Link Road, Kaduna residence amidst pomp and pageantry.
The former Vice President, who was overwhelmed by the reception accorded him, expressed his gratitude to the people of Kaduna State for their show of love and affection and Nigerians for the mandate given to him and former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve their country for the five-year period of their administration.
Sambo wished the new administration success while assuring that even after office, he would continue to make his contributions to the development of the country.
While praying for peace, progress and development of the country, he urged his followers to continue to respect the tenets of democracy and be law abiding and to always toe the path of peace and dialogue.
Sambo was sworn-in as Vice President on May 19, 2010, following the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the subsequent swearing-in of President Goodluck Jonathan. Before then, he was the governor of Kaduna State, elected in 2007.
During his tenure, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan brought a lot of development to the state amongst which were the rehabilitation of rail lines, construction of the new standard gauge rail line from Kaduna to Abuja, the 230mw Kudendan Power Plant in Kaduna Industrial Area, the 40mw Gurara Dam power plant and irrigation projects, the Hunkuyi dam and several other multipurpose small and medium dam projects across the North-West state.
Others were the establishment of the Almajirai Model Schools, upgrading and remodelling of the Kaduna International Airport, dualisation of the Jere-Bwari Road and several other road projects, amongst others.
Also during his tenure, several indigenes of Kaduna State were appointed into key positions at the federal level.
The immediate past deputy governor of Kaduna State, Nuhu Bajoga, former ministers, former and serving members of the state and federal legislature, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the state, former local government officials and others were amongst those that thronged the airport to receive the former Vice President.
