By Haliru Sarki Kende
Glowing tributes were being paid on the Northern Pioneer civil servants, Traditional Rulers and prominent persons for their contributions in the evolvement of the Industrial and socio-educational road map for the development of the Northern Region.
The top recipients of the encomiums was the Premier of the Northern Region, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto) and the Ministers that operated the parliamentary system of Governance in the first Republic.
Reflecting from the Sardauna’s Transformation agenda for the North, the Emir of Gwandu, Gen Muhammad Iliyasu Bashar, routed his entry into the Army and got commissioned in 1965 from the late Premier’s Campaign efforts.
He said the Premier had embarked on Public Campaign through Traditional Institutions across the Region to enroll their wards into the Nigeria Armed Forces as Nigeria approached its independence anniversary.
The Royal father made the remarks recently, at the Abdullahi Fodio Palace Birnin Kebbi while presiding over a dinner party in honor of seven newly promoted Military Personnel that hailed from Kebbi State.
The Chairman, Kebbi State Council of chiefs, implored on the celebrants to upheld the patriotic zeal of the late Premier in the Defence of the Nation’s, Land, Water and the Air Space which falls in tan dam with the Military rudiments across the globe.
As benefactors of such legendary works, Emir Bashar urged them to strive further and replicate the legacies laid across the North upon which the Premier was known for to his demise in1966.
While he accorded each celebrant with a material gift, the Custodian of the Western Caliphate reminded the Citizenry to rededicate their service to the Nation by working in the implementation of any policy in the Country.
To this effect, Emir Bashar referred the citizenry to the forthcoming National Heads Counts, the Nationwide Polls in February, and the January 31st terminal date for the circulation of the old Currency Notes across the nation.
The Commissioner of works Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ladan upheld the Gwandu Emirate Council’s foresight in the organization of the Dinner held for the newly promoted Military Officers at the Abdullahi Fodio Palace, Birnin Kebbi the Dual capital of the State and the Emirate Council.
Alhaji Ladan who manned the traditional title of Barden Gwandu and represented his colleagues, appreciated the Emir’s resolve to host the celebrants which reflected the disposition of his forbearers that shun discriminations upon all and sundry people across the caliphate.
The celebrants were also admonished to see their elevations as a factor to boost their morale and Commitment to serve Nigeria as their father land in the comity of Nations in the World.
The Magajin garin Gwandu Alhaji Aminullahi Umar, who made the advice in the opening address told the Military Officers to use their good Offices to benefit the citizenry as the shining examples of their contemporaries within and outside the Northern exes of the Country.
Other Emirate Councilors at the Occasion were the Sarkin Fadan Gwandu, Alhaji Aminu Muhammad Sarkin Fada who enjoined the celebrants to justify their new attainment as professional Military Personnel.
Alhaji Sarkin Fada who double as the Birnin Kebbi Local Government Chairman said their achievements were worthy of support and encouragement and inspire them to strive for more success in the Armed Forces of the federation.
While he Commended the Gwandu Emirate Council GEC, for the honor, Major Gen. Nasir Muhammadu Jega called on able bodied Youths to join the Nigerian Army in their crave to cement the required peace and harmonious co-existence in the country.
He said interest and determination were the binding factors for all able bodied Nigerian Youths to Join the Army and contribute his/her quota in the continued developmental requirements of the Country.
Gen. Muhammad Jega however said it wasn’t easy to match the cause of struggles in the Military career adding of the 135 Military Officers billed for similar elevations only 51 were able to make it across the Nation.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Battalion Commandant Major M.M Shagari, the Acting State Chief Judge Justice Umar Abubakar, ACG MS. Gwandu rtd Marafan Gwandu, and Alh. Hassan Muhammad Shallah the Commissioner of Education.
Others were Local Government Chairmen in Gwandu Emirate representatives of the Sultanate Council Alhaji Garba Shehu (Ardon Sanyinna), the Emir of Argungu, Yauri and Zuru among other dignitaries.
Haliru Sarki Kende
08067234599
The Emir of Gwandu is major general, not general
Okay noted and thanks for the correction sir