Kaduna (Office of the Vice President Report) – Nigeria’s Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has lately during the annual Afan Festival held in Kagoro, Kaduna State expressed personal support for the creation of New Gurara State from the present Kaduna State.
Mohammed Namadi Sambo indicated that the Nigerian government recognizes the inalienable rights of the citizens to operate within the confines of the law for self-determination, promotion and harnessing of the potentials of its people. He also noted that the socio-political emancipation of a people lies in their conscious efforts to champion the cause that will progressively move them to the next level.
The Vice President avowed deep sympathy on behalf of the Federal Government over the loss of lives and property in the land, stating that in order to forestall and secure the area against unwarranted attacks and senseless killings, the Nigerian government is working to set up a military formation for the provision of adequate security. He assured the people that Government will overcome the evil of insurgency and terrorist acts and God willing the country would have peace and development.
While congratulating the people for the New Year 2015, Vice President Namadi Sambo emphasized that the year was an important one, being an election year. He stressed that government is committed to delivering free and fair elections. He further demanded the people to be peaceful during the period, noting that no ambition of any politician is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“I want to draw our attention to the fact that this time around, no act of violence shall be tolerated. Decisive actions will be taken against any person participating in any violent act before, during and after the elections,” he reiterated.
Speaking on the festival, VP Sambo hinted that the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Administration is keen on revamping Nigeria’s tourism potentials to make it a viable venture for the creation of employment and increased wealth for the peoples. He added that the Afan Festival has not only assisted in unifying the people of Kagoro, but has further catapulted the tourism potential of Nigeria and promoted her rich cultural heritage in the eyes of the world.
He commended the efforts of the Chief of Kagoro, Ufuwai Bonnet (Sir) in improving on the legacies bequeathed to him by his predecessors and keeping the ball rolling; explaining that he has no doubt built on the foundation of peace, tranquility, fair mindedness and nobility. He listed the dividends of the Transformation Agenda in the area to include: the 215megawatts thermal power plant at the Kudendan Industrial Area, the 40megawatts power plant at the Gurara Dam which has agriculture and tourism components as well as the promotion of tourist sites at the Matsirga Waterfalls, the Kagoro Hills and the Nok Culture, among other job creation and youth empowerment programmers of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency and the Transformational Agricultural Agenda.
In another development, VP Sambo said that the government has opened the frontiers for effective utilization of the huge mineral deposits in the area through the public private partnership policy; adding that the two Kagoro erosion projects at Kajimi are nearing completion. He informed that for the movement of people and goods, the Kaduna-Abuja fast train and other rail and road networks which would pass through the area have been delivered.
Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State in his remarks noted that the Kagoro people has provided an example on how diverse groups should live, revealing that the State Government has recognized that culture and tourism are important sources of internally generated revenue. Adding, the State government is doing everything possible to ensure the provision of adequate security. Reflecting on the agitation for the creation of Gurara State, Ramalan Yero noted that the executive and legislative arms of the State Government are all in support of the creation of the new State.
The Chairman of the occasion, who is also the President of the Kagoro Development Association, Andrew Yakubu as well as the former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Paul Abiyong, expressed the importance of the day to the people of Kagoro and called on the State and Federal Governments for more projects and presence.
In his New Year message to the people, the Chief of Kagoro, Ufuwai Bonnet said that the over 400 years old festival symbolises thanksgiving and mirrors a very important holiday which is non-commercial. He called on the people to bear the image of hope in the New Year, maintaining that the Kagoro people will remain a great and united nation. He thanked the Vice President and the Governor for honouring their invitation. He added that Kagoro supports the President Jonathan administration and called for more federal presence in the area.
Ufuwai Bonnet charged politicians and the electorate to be peaceful during the forthcoming general election. He observed that politicians need to be true democrats and as the motto for the 2015 polls ought to be ‘politics of love.’ According to him, the festival derives its name from a religious ceremony – Known as “Afan” which means expressing gratitude to God after the annual harvest and seeking the blessings of God in the New Year.
“The Oegworok people are renowned hunters and excellent swordsmen, who have always defended and protected their domain against intruders and marauders,” he espoused. The highlight of the festival was a colourful and beautiful presentation of the rich culture of the Kagoro people through dances and displays.
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