The Mandar community in Bokkos Local government of Plateau State is seeking governent’s intervention in some challenges confronting the Community such as lack of essential social amenities like water, motorable road and electrimcity.The National president of the Mandar Community Development Arts and Culture, (MCDA&C) MR. Sunday Ezikiel Ngwallang made this demands while addressing friends and well wisher during the 12th Annual Cultural Festival ( Dor Ma NIK 2020) holding at LGEA Primary School Bhut, in Bokkos Local governmentHe said the community is in need of over 20 boreholes, Iights, and other Social amenities including the he construction of Kunet Barah, Butura Kampani, Nghassi and Tenti Baba road and process for the approval is in progress with FMA&RD” Provision of financial support for the construction of Tenti Baba Feeder road by the FMA&RD.
“Request for the proper delineation of more polling units in Mandar ward by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission as many votes are being disenfranchised during state elections.
” The present exco was sworn in 2019 and is working harmoniously and tirelessly to the progress of the community. It is therefore my singular honour and pleasure to on behalf of the exco, the Saf Mandar and his traditional council, the title holders and the entire good people of Mandar welcome you to the 2020 Mandar annual cultural festivalDor ma Ndik.” I hope we shall together celebrate Mandar tradition and culture at its best. The celebration will not be completed without our kinsmen from Butura as Mandar remain part and parcel of the Butura Nation; under the able leadership of SAF BUTURA DAH DR. Engr. John Sabriel Mallo Makwal we pledge our full support for the attainment of the ultimate objective of the Butura nation with the popular Slogan: Butura Mwan, Mwanti Mbweh. also want to appreciate the fatherly role of our Traditional ruler the SAF Mandar Amos Jalang with his wise counseling.
“Permit me to present in a summary some modest achievements within the period of ur leadership among which are:
Sustaining the payment of rent for the Veterinary clinic in Tenti, which was establish by Bokkos L.G.A.; Continue the pursuance of the restoration of Mandar district. ;Successful organization of Mandar Cultural festival (Mandar day) in 2019, and today, we are here to celebrate the 12’h Mandar day. ; Access the approval for the construction of water hawester i.e Mini Dam by the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development (FMA&RD).
Management and funding of court cases at the high court in Jos and with the support of some prominent sons of Mandar.
“However, we wish to state that the Ieadership or Exco identified some challenges among which are: The massive youth unemployment which is the cause of most social vices e.g. insecurity. Lack of sustainable revenue sources for the Mandar community development Asso Election matters between mandar ward and Butura ward especially in Butura Kampani and Machambe during state elections. Insecurity, as one of the community, Wur mandar has been displacLack of computer Base testing centre for prospective JAMB candidates from the community as that has exposed the candidates to the risk of transportation and accommodation cost. The exco has remained resolute and refuse to be intimidated by the above challenges for the progress of Mandar nation. We are calling on all Mandar sons and daughters to remain united and live harmoniously to enable us move ahead. More importantly we need to be alert and highly security conscious. We must live together and support one another in times of Security breach, an attack on one individual is an attack on all and attack on one community is an attack on all communities in Bokkos L.G.A. “
He equally seeks for More Jobs should be created by the government and private individuals as it’s the only way to reducing insecurity in our country.
Adding that all people doing Mining and other activities in Mandar land should pay royalties, pay compensations and ensure environmental impact assessment is done to improve the revenue sources and avoid pollution.
“Our people especially the youths should consider learning skills and joining farming as a serious business and embark on best Agriculture! practices,
explore more markets within and outside the state, take advantage of Agric Financing sources.
” Take the education of our children very serious as this is the game changer in life, in today’s contemporary world it is the bed rock of human development.Whenever we are called upon to serve our community in whatever capacity we should humny avail ourselves with all sense of commitment in the interest of our community.
“Live in peace with all our neighboring communityRuku, Mangor, our Kinsmen
Butura, the Beroms, Fulains, Mwagavuls, Hauses etc. Because peace surpasses all and it brings development. We wish to thank the present administration under the leadership of Rt. Han. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong for the award and construction of UTC junction Maiyanga Gwede/Karfa-Sha-Daffo Road Which has been abandon, to kindly direct the contractor back to site. We also want to thank the government for appointing one of our own Hon. James Yak Ayuba into the Executive Board of Federal Inland Revenue Service as member.
“We are today Iaunching an appeal fund of N10 Million naira to build computer base testing centre and cassette DVD 2018/2019 cultural festival and hope you will all support us to actualize our dream for the future development of our youths.
In conclusion, we wish to thank you all who sacriüced your precious time to be part of this historic event and hope that you will enjoy the celebration with us and go back with pleasant memories of the event”.
Also speaking, He n Luka Makut, Chairman of the occasion, said in order to imbibe western education in the preservation and transmission onto the future generation, the cultural heritage of their ancestors is very imperative in view of statistics which reveal inimical tendencies against the survival of some cultures in the nearest future.
“I feel highly honored and delighted of this privilege bestowed on me by my kit and kin to preside over activities of this very revered cultural festival tagged “Dora Ma Ndik” alongside the raising of funds to further consolidate on the educational stride and cultural development in Mandar.
“Today’s occasion being the twelfth in the series of the commemoration of this annual cultural festival is an attestation of the unity, commitment and determination of the people of Mandar in taking destiny into their hands through capitalization on the benefits of cultural values passed them from past generations and forecasting on a brighter future ahead for the younger generation.
“The era where achieving community goals and objectives was the sole responsibility of government for the provision of amenities is gone. I wish to therefore, commend the vision and proactive initiative of the people of Mandar in taking the bull by the horns in adopting the use of this annual cultural festival to raise funds for the construction of a Community Centre/Computer Lab and the unveiling of packaged videos of the preceding Mandar day.
“Accordingly, Government in meeting the plight of citizens through community participation has set in motion viable modalities fo the accessing of World Bank funds through the Community effort.
Social Development Program to compliment its efforts.”Consequently, I call the Ieadership of Mandar Community to tow the line of being part of this Iaudible initiative which requires communities to raise only ten percent of the total cost of any
project.
“This Iofty initiative which has prompted the community to beckon on all those invited to be witnesses to their cultural endowment in Mandar aiso offers invited guests privilege for history to acknowiedge you as being among those who contributed to the
growth development of the community.”I therefore, call on every son and daughter of Mandar and indeed all guests to ensure they share in the blessing of giving for the Construction of this very significant and critical centre/lab which when completed would serve as a new vista and pathway for the attainment of development. As we all await thrilling moments from the array of cultural performances, cuisines and other values of Mandar heritage, “.
By Moses Gbande
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Request for the proper delineation of more polling units in Mandar ward by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission as many votes are being disenfranchised during state elections.
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ustaining the payment of rent for the Veterinary clinic in Tenti, which was establish by Bokkos L.G.A.; Continue the pursuance of the restoration of Mandar district. ;Successful organization of Mandar Cultural festival (Mandar day) in 2019, and today, we are here to celebrate the 12’h Mandar day. ; Access the approval for the construction of water hawester i.e Mini Dam by the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development (FMA&RD).
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The era where achieving community goals and objectives was the sole responsibility of government for the provision of amenities is gone. I wish to therefore, commend the vision and proactive initiative of the people of Mandar in taking the bull by the horns in adopting the use of this annual cultural festival to raise funds for the construction of a Community Centre/Computer Lab and the unveiling of packaged videos of the preceding Mandar day.
Nasarawa Reporters 