Carnival: Ex-Minister Jerry Gana Solicits National Institution For Kaltungo Kingdom

 

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi 

Nigerian former minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana has solicited the support of the federal government for the provision of a national institution in the Kaltungo Kingdom of Gombe state to give the people a federal presence.

The former minister made the appeal at the 2024 Kaltungo Annual Carnival held in the Kaltungo community weekend.

The carnival is a cultural festival yearly organised to showcase the cultural heritage of the people of Kaltungo Chiefdom, enhance social interaction, promote peace and unity while strengthening cooperation among the diverse ethnic groups within and outside the state. 

Gana told the Kaltungo people, “The Lord, God has given you a beautiful town which is ready to grow and prosper. I’m delighted that I have been invited to this occasion by the Mai Kaltungo through a dear friend, the Kauran Kaltungo,Hon. James Joseph Damara.

“I decided to honour the invitation to be here today by Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Mohammed Umar, because when I was serving as minister of information, Mai Kaltungo honoured me in his wonderful palace, and I have not been here since then. We will continue to bless the sons and daughters of this land”.

Jerry Gana added, “When I was coming here this time, I was asking whether the federal government or the state government have done something great for Kaltungo in terms of national institution, and I look here left and right, nobody has introduced me to any major thing here that has been done by the federal or the state. If there is none, I am going to take away from this occasion back to Abuja through my Senator that the people of Abuja should please remember Kaltungo”.

The former minister who is Kyauren Kaltungo stressed the need for intensified prayers to complement government’s efforts in addressing the challenges of insecurity and ensure peaceful coexistence among the people. 

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Meso C. Dickson said that the annual is being celebrated to promote social harmony among the various communities of the emirate, and by extension the state and the country at large.

Mr. Meso Dickson who is a  chairman/CEO Mesotho Group Limited Developer of Kugbo International market, explained that the carnival is a celebration of cultural heritage, and for social and economic promotion where people from all walks of life, ethnicity and geographical locations come together on a common goal of advising the society.

Dickson described the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Sale Muhammadu Umar as a symbol of unity, who has effectively and religiously championed the course of his people as a detribalised leader without discrimination in whatever guise, and charged inhabitants of Kingdom to support the Mai to preserve and sustain the rich cultural heritage of the area.

The State Governor, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya represented by the State Commissioner of Internal Security & Home Affairs, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Bello (Rtd.) commended Mai Kaltungo for organizing the annual event which is geared to promote social harmony.

He said, “Any event that promote the cultural heritage of ethnic groups while harmonizing their beliefs, identities, and differences to enhance understanding must be encouraged and eulogised”.

For his part, the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Sale Muhammadu Umar told the event that pulled crowds from within and outside Gombe state that prayers were necessary ingredients for complementing the government’s efforts at winning the war against insecurity and criminality in the country. 

Mai Kaltungo, who is the deputy chairman, Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, also urged the people of Gombe to continue to live in peace while promoting issues that would strengthen unity in the state and the country at large. 

He thanked the state government and security agencies for efforts so far made to sustain the relative peace being enjoyed by the people.

He expressed appreciation to traditional rulers and people from walks of life that graced the occasion, he also commended Hon. James Joseph Damara Kauran Kaltungo for supporting the festival.

The Chairman organising committee of the event, Hajiya Sa’adatu Saad Mustapha, Alkyebban Kaltungo appreciated the role played by journalists towards disseminating information that help to showcase the cultural heritage of Kaltungo community to the global community.

Guests and dignitaries were entertained with cultural and traditional dance, and inspection of historical products, traditional dishes and release of pigeons by the chairman of the occasion.