By Christopher Lula, GOMBE
The Government of Gombe State under Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has condoled with the Mai Kaltungo, and members of his Chiefdom over loss of four lives who were drowned in a river in Kaltungo Local Government on Wednesday.
Some people were reported to have been swept by a raging river and drowned in the process while trying to remove a pick- up Van that got stucked in the sand.
The High powered delegation was led by the state Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Ph.D, who urged the Mai Kaltungo and his subjects to accept the incidence as a divine providence that must happen on that particular date and time.
Dr. Jatau lamented the death of youths who died in the process of ekking out a living and left behind families and dependents.
He admonished that, since death is of God and an inevitable end to all mortals, people should accept it in good faith.
He said "Your Royal Highness, we have always hoped to visit your Chiefdom during a joyous moment, especially that the Commissioning of the Mosque is around the corner. But as it is , according to divine arrangement we have come on a sad note to condole with the Mai and the people of your Chiefdom over the death of four people who were drowned in a river. I enjoined us to accept this in good faith as God, our maker knows all."
"Since I have been told that, the drowning of people in the river is a yearly occurrence, we will direct the Commissioner of Works to make assessment and advised the government on the next line of action in order to stop this menace."
Responding, the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Mohammed appreciated the concern of the Government to sympathise with them over the deaths.
He said, it is lamentable that every year people's lives are being lost over what he described as preventable, pleading with the Government to come to their aid by constructing bridges over the rivers in Popandi and Banganje to forestall future occurrence.
He said, "the position of Kaltungo is situated on hills and cliffs which makes formation of rivers possible. Our farms are located across rivers and our people must go to the farms to survive. This incident happened when one of our youths who owned a peugeot( pick-up) van got stucked in the sand while attempting to cross a river since there is no bridge. In the process they were drowned, and we lost four youths, in three families."
"We are appealing to the state Government to come to our aid and stop this yearly incidences of loss of lives and properties. We are tired of burying our youths in the process of struggling to have ends meet" he added.
The Mai who spoke amidst tears said, as Traditional Rulers they value every life in the Society therefore they are so much pained when a single life that is lost, let alone four at a time. He prayed God Almighty grants them eternal rest.
The Chairman Kaltungo Local Government Council Hon. Faruk Umar expressed appreciation to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for sending the high powered delegation under his Deputy to sympathise with them, praying God to bless them.
Speaking at the residence of one of the victims, Mal. Alhassan Maina appreciated the government's delegation for coming to commiserate with them over the deaths, praying God to reward them abundantly.
In a related development the delegation also condoled with an Elder in Kaltungo, Mr. Samuel Danladi over the death of his wife.
While there, the deputy governor urged him and the family to be comforted in the fact that, God's plan for families is perfect and as human beings " we should appreciate him in all things, since we can't question him".
Mr. Elkanah Danladi who spoke on behalf of the family thanked the Deputy Governor and members of his delegation for coming to identify with them in their moment of sorrow.
The delegation include, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Commissioner of Higher Education also overseeing Information, Mr. Meshach Audu Lauco, Special Advisers, Executive Secretaries of Primary Health Care Development Agency and that of SEMA as well as Provost College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Nafada among others.
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