Gaani Festival: Speaker Danladi Restates Commitment of AbdulRazaq’s Administration To Boost Economy Through Tourism
The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, has restated commitment of the present government to boost the state economy through continuous and massive investment in culture and tourism.
Rt. Engr. Danladi-Salihu who spoke at the 2023 Gaani Festival of Gwanara Emirate, Baruten Local Government Area of the state also urged the people of the state to rally round Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in his quest to make the state economically viable using culture and tourism as a catalyst.
The speaker noted that the present administration has shown its commitment to use culture and tourism to stimulate the state economy, especially with heavy investment in the creative industry.
He explained that the Governor has also given priority to promotion of culture in the three senatorial districts of the state through annual celebration of festivals of local communities.
Rt. Hon. Engr. Danladi-Salihu, however, pledged requisite legislative support for the state government to harness the potential in the cultural sector for the common good of the people of the state.
The speaker commended the people of Gwanara for trooping out in large number for the commemoration of Gaani festival in the ancient town.
The Emir of Gwanara, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabi Idris, who spoke through Magaji Ngeri of Gwanara, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, at the festival that played host to dignitaries from all walks of life, recalled that the festival was fashioned out of Eid-el-Maulud, the period designated for the celebration of birth of Prophet Muhammad in Islam.
He said the occasion provided a rare opportunity for a reunion among the people of the town beyond its economic impact.
Similarly, the Emir of Okuta and Chairman, Baruten Emirate Council, Alhaji Idris Abubakar Shero, said the festival was not new to the people of Batonum, describing it as an inheritance from the progenitor of Borgu kingdom.
The festival, which drew top government officials and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and held at the open field of the new Palace of Emir of Gwanara, featured cultural displays.
The annual cultural and colorful occasion featured horse riding, different cultural dances, music, and acrobatic displays among others and it was attended by scores of Kwara lawmakers in the 10th Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, and some members of the 9th Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Raphael Ọlálékan Olanrewaju Adetiba, members of the Assembly Service Commission as well as the management and staff of the Assembly led by the Clerk Alhaji Ahmed Olayiwola Kareem.
Others are Hon. Usman Lade commissioner for water resources and supervising commissioner for youth development, Abdullah Bata commissioner for Local Government government and chieftaincy affairs, Aliyu Kora Sabi Dudu commissioner for planning and economic development, the APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi and Deputy Alhaji Sanmari Abdullahi, Alhaji Tajudeen Audu Makama Lafiagi), Dr Kolo Jiya (Haske) among other top government functionaries.
