By Ibraheem Musa
Normally, introspection, stock taking, and projections are the stock in trade of December, as governance and business activities slow down at that time of the year. Festivities, social activities, and merrymaking, on the other hand, are usually on overdrive, running at full throttle towards the New Year. However, in Kaduna State, the story was different as Senator Uba Sani, during the last Yuletide, was almost everywhere, juggling several balls and doing many things almost simultaneously. Indeed, he performed groundbreaking events, and foundation-laying ceremonies and attended religious as well as cultural functions, without breaking a sweat. For instance, the last week of 2023, from December 23 to 31, witnessed a staccato of events but the Governor attended to them in a walk.
First, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, was at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, along with his entourage, comprising members of the Sardauna Memorial Foundation, on December 23. Indeed, the team commiserated with the Governor, the people of Kaduna State, and the bereaved of Tudun Biri village, over the bombing incident. Aliyu, without mincing words, commended the Governor’s efforts, including the swift response, providing succour to the injured, visiting the crime scene, and fashioning out a Marshall Plan for Tudun Biri.
Similarly, Malam Mamman Daura, ex-President Buhari’s nephew, came to Government House on the same day. Daura, leading the Islamic Trust of Nigeria, also condoled with Governor Uba Sani, prayed for the dead, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Thereafter, the Governor left Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, headed to Southern Kaduna, and stopped over at Zangon Kataf, Jemaá, and Sanga local governments, where he performed a raft of groundbreaking ceremonies and flagging off of key projects.
Indeed, Samarun Kataf was the first port of call, and the Governor, for the second time, performed the groundbreaking ceremony, for the construction of Kaduna State Vocational and Technology Skills City. The project, like that of Rigachukun, aims to reskill and upskill Kaduna citizens, to handle technical and technology-related tasks. Right now, there are skills gaps in Kaduna State, across private and public sectors, as most citizens lack the requisite know-how to be competitive at the national level.
After Samaru, the rural transformation drive, on the same day, flag-off the construction of roads, drainages, and culverts across the eight local governments in Southern Kaduna, including Zangon Kataf, Kagarko, Jaba, Sanga, Kaura, Kauru, Kachia, and Jema'a Area Councils. Indeed, the groundbreaking for a feeder road, from Takjey to Mayajet, in Zangon Kataf as well as the flag-off of solar-powered streetlights in Kafanchan, signposted the rural transformation projects in Southern Kaduna. Besides, the distribution of new transformers and repair of vandalized ones, across zone 3 senatorial district, were done on that same December 23.
The Governor, after the marathon events, took a break for Christmas but on December 31, the back-to-back flag-offs and sundry assignments resumed. In Sanga, Senator Uba Sani performed another groundbreaking event, for an 18-kilometre road construction, linking the local government to Jemaá Area Council. The road, from Gwantu, through Kiban, will provide forward and backward linkages to farmers and markets, and reduce post-harvest losses, cost of transportation, and travel time. Besides, it will employ the skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled during the construction period.
Significantly, Governor Uba Sani was specially invited, as a mark of honour, to the maiden Southern Kaduna Festival. Mainly, the festival showcased the culture, including music, food, and dance, of the over 50 ethnic nationalities of the area. Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, as well as a host of dignitaries, graced the event and Senator Uba Sani, using the platform, reiterated the vision of his administration. In summary, he is committed to building a united Kaduna State, bringing development closer to the people, addressing the infrastructure and human capital deficits, tackling insecurity, and making Kaduna State a destination of choice for investors.
Indeed, from December 17, 2023, when he attended the Kaduna Unity Christmas Carol at ECWA Church Sabon Tasha, to the string of groundbreaking events and flagging off of projects, including foundation laying ceremonies, Senator Uba Sani has started winning hearts and minds in Southern Kaduna.
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