Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has commended the convener of the Kwantamania Progressives Movement and Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon Yakubu Kwanta, for empowering 1507 persons with cars, motorcycles, grinding machine, fertilizer and cash, among others.
Engineer Sule gave the commendation when he spoke as a special guest during the Engr. A. A. Sule empowerment programme, in Akwanga, on Saturday.
The Governor, who couldn’t hide his excitement, specifically commended Hon Kwanta for reaching out to help the less privileged members of his community, even though he was not aspiring for any political office.
“This is the kind of loyalty we talk about and I want to sincerely appreciate you for this gesture. I have seen events similar to this but mostly by people who are contesting for office for themselves.
“But for you, to continue to say you are doing something like this just to show support to the governor, I’m deeply moved,” he stated.
While recalling that Hon Kwanta was only appointed as commissioner less than a year ago, the governor said Kwanta was able to organise the event because he has the will, wisdom and focus.
“I heard so much from people, when they will get up and hide over the fact that, we are not the governor that’s why we couldn’t do this. No, because we didn’t have the power. Well, Kwanta is not the governor, he is not a deputy governor, he does not have the powers, yet he is doing things a lot of us couldn’t do. This is what you call loyalty, this is what you call care for your people,” he said.
Engineer Sule was equally thrilled seeing the Mada Nation coming together in unity, stressed that he is continuously happy seeing the people of Akwanga united.
“For you to gather all these people here, our royal fathers and for me to see the excitement on the face of our paramount traditional ruler, the Chun Mada, I am moved by that,” the governor stated.
He however charged the close to 70 political appointees from Akwanga, the highest ever, to emulate this gesture and to reach out to the people they represent.
“It’s not about being a commissioner, especially under A.A Sule. It’s like being a minister under Buhari. There is no money to steal. All the money is for us to work for the people. Good people will always remember good things done to them,” Engineer Sule said.
Convener of the Kwantamania Progressives Movement and Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon Yakubu Kwanta, said the empowerment programme was conceived out of the desire to emulate Engineer Sule’s leadership qualities.
Hon Kwanta revealed that the Kwantamania Progressives Movement for Engr. A. A. Sule, which has grassroots appeal, is a strong political force that rose for the promotion, defence and championing the mandate of the Governor beyond its first tenure.
“Today, I am confident to say that the Movement has grown in root and top from Local Government to Local Government; from Ward to Ward; from Polling Unit to Polling Unit and from Village to Village,” he said.
The commissioner emphasized that the members of the movement, stood by the Governor, at a time primordial sentiments was a major useful tool to turn against him and that they stood strong in face of this challenge, believing in him as a man of capacity who will turn the fortunes of Nasarawa State for the better.
Earlier in an opening remarks, Chairman Organizing Committee for the Engr A. A .Sule Empowerment Initiative, Mr. Dan Yakubu, disclosed that a total of 1, 507 persons, including six groups will benefit from the largesse.
Mr. Yakubu gave the break down of items to be distributed to include, two cars, 11 motorcycles, 13 grinding machines and 11 agro-sprayers.
Others are, 534 persons, including all LGA and Ward exco members, as well as 3 members of the Kwantamania Progressives Movement in each of the 70 polling units in Akwanga will receive N5000 each, 300 others will receive a bag of fertilizer each, 500 persons will each receive a branded wrapper, while another 120 persons will receive 2 litres of herbicide each.
The chairman pointed out that the gesture is a personal response to the people of Akwanga Local Government Area.
He appreciated the Governor for his ability to identify the best and make them members of his cabinet.
In a goodwill message, the Chun Mada, HRH Pastor Samson Gamu Yare, commended Hon Kwanta for initiating the biggest empowerment programme ever in the history of Akwanga Local Government Area.
As a token of appreciation, the royal father promised to confer a beffiting traditional title on Hon Kwanta for making the Mada chiefdom proud.
Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Nehemiah Tsentse Dandaura, former deputy governor, Hon Damishi Luka Barau, All Progressives Congress (APC) local government party officials, among others.
