No fewer than 229 persons in Kwara State have benefited from an empowerment programme initiated by a federal lawmaker representing Kaiama/Baruten Federal Constituency, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed. Items distributed included a transformer, block-moulding machines, grinding machines, motorcycles, tricycles, sewing machines, sprayers and herbicides. Other items distributed are learning materials were also distributed to schools and while cash donations to widows.
The empowerment programme took place in Kaiama, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
At the event, Alhaji Mohammed, who is the House of Representatives Chairman, Committee on Basic Education, expressed strong belief in the oneness of the country.
He emphasised that there is no alternative to unity. Every stakeholder in the Nigeria project must according to him, renew faith and commitment to the nation’s unity in order to ensure that nothing would ever have the country’s oneness and peace threatened.
“The need to maintain and ensure the continued existence of Nigeria as an entity has become a religious duty for every Nigerian,” he said.
The legislator cautioned religious, political and the community leaders in the country against making statements that has the potentials to heighten tension.
He urged the youths to be conscious that could threaten peace, saying anyone who has witnessed a war situation will not embark on actions capable of threatening the nation’s security and unity.
He said, “Some among us speak of unity because we know the consequences of division. The alternative to unity is chaos and a nation destroyed by its own people. We must preach unity and oneness, we must lay emphasis on the factors that unite us and downplay the ones that can promote disunity, inter-tribal marriages and other platforms of interactions have turned us into one big family and we cannot do less than to register unflinching commitment to the unity and the oneness of the country.”
He added that the country is capable of recording great achievements, confident that the country’s future narrative can however be changed for good; once the people play the needed role in sustaining what the country has achieved so far.
He promising that the National Assembly will if need be, come up with the required new laws that will ensure that the future of those who hold tomorrow for the nation is secured.
“We want to make sure that we nurture, protect and encourage the next generation of leaders, we will push for policies that are important and we will expand opportunity for the youths,” he stated.
In a remark, Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly Matthew Okedare, said “What Alhaji Mohammed has done is quite commendable, he is known as a man of honour , a man of integrity and a man of his words, those of us that are his friends and associates have in one way or the other had to emulate his good deeds.
“You can see that the materials arranged over there is worth millions of naira, if someone can venture into such project at this trying times and ensures he gives back to his people, it shows that he is a man of honour. We pray that God will continue to be with him.”
Kaiama Local Government Area chair, Alhaji Abdulahi Audu Bata hailed the lawmaker for the kind gesture, adding, “Actually, this is not the first time that Zakari Mohammed will be empowering our people.
“Today’s edition is, however, exceptional because the beneficiaries are over 200 it is minimum of eighteen per ward.
“Honestly we are overwhelmed as a community and we pray that God will grant him long life so that we can witness more events of this nature and the kind gesture.”
Also commenting, President Kaiama Youth Frontier Abubakar Adamu said that “an event like this will help greatly in creating a good image for the party.
“There are always complaints by the people that they are abandoned by the political office holders after getting elected but with an occasion like this, it will assist a lot in getting people convinced that the difference is clear. This is the second time he is doing this, he did one recently at Kosubosu.”