A former minister of information, Professor Jerry Gana, has solicited the support of the federal government for the provision of a national institution in Kaltungo Kingdom of Gombe State.
He made the appeal at the 2024 Kaltungo Annual Carnival held in Kaltungo community at the weekend.
The carnival is an annual cultural festival organised to showcase the cultural heritage of the people, enhance social interaction, promote peace and unity while strengthening cooperation among ethnic groups within and outside the state.
Gana told 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”.
“When I was coming here this time, I was asking whether the federal or state government had done something great for Kaltungo in terms of a national institution, and I looked left and right, nobody introduced me to any major thing here that has been done by the federal or state government. If there is none, I am going to take away from this occasion back to Abuja through my senator that the people in Abuja should please remember Kaltungo.”
The former minister who has the traditional title of Kyauren Kaltungo stressed the need for intensified prayers to complement government’s efforts in addressing the challenges of insecurity and ensuring peaceful coexistence among the people.
The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Meso C. Dickson, said the festival was to promote social harmony among the various communities of the emirate, and by extension the state and the country at large. Dickson who is the chairman/CEO of Mesotho Group Limited and developer of the Kugbo International Market, said 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 for a common goal of advising the society.
Dickson described the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Sale Muhammadu Umar, as a symbol of unity, for effectively and religiously championing the cause of his people as a detribalised leader.
Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya represented by the commissioner for internal security & home affairs, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Bello (rtd.) commended Mai Kaltungo for organising the event.