Proposed Mambilla University: Monarch commends Taraba lawmakers
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
The Chief of Mambilla HRH, Dr. Shehu Audu Baju II has commended the three Taraba State House of Assembly lawmakers from the Mambilla Plateau for jointly sponsoring a Bill at the state assembly, to establish a university on the Mambilla Plateau.
Chief of Mambilla, HRH Dr Shehu Audu Baju II
The concerned lawmakers our Correspondent gathered are, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah of Mbamnga constituency, Hon. Nelson C. Len of Nguroje and Hon. Abdullazeez Suleiman Titong of Gembu.
All hail from Sardauna local government area of the State, representing their people at the state assembly in Jalingo.
Dr. Baju made the commendation while speaking at a reception organized by the stakeholders of the local government area to honour the three legislators.
At the occasion held at the conference hall of C2C event centre, Jalingo, the paramount ruler described the proposal for establishing a university on the Mambilla Plateau as an emotional situation to him, saying the dream to have a university on the Mambilla Plateau was promised by the Sardauna of Sokoto with the condition that they join the country, Nigeria.
The Monarch further revealed that he was two years of age when the agreement was reached between his late father, the fathers of the present day Sardauna stakeholders and Sardauna of Sokoto, adding that the dream came to reality at his sixty six (66) years of age.
“This is an emotional situation to me. Why am I saying that? I am sixty six (66) years old and when this agreement was made with my father, the fathers of all these stakeholders sitting here and the Sardauna of Sokoto, that we should be given a university, among other promises, if we go and join Nigeria, I was two (2) years old. I was fortunate to be very close to my father then”,
“Now, I am alive, I am still alive. I have seen the descendants of those individuals who were with my father pursuing the same dream of Sardauna of Sokoto, it has come true”, he said.
Dr. Baju II who, was full happiness told the gathering that even if he dies today, his father and others who are late will be proud that their descendants have succeeded in achieving what they started.
“We are grateful to Governor Agbu Kefas for his foresight and those who contributed to the success of this dream”, he added.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Chief Gebon Timothy Kataps lauded the foresight of the three legislators and pointed out that they have made a landslide victory.
On the proposed Mambilla Plateau university, SGS said they are not going to wait for the government to help them build the university.
“All hands must be on deck with lots and lots of sacrifices for the university to start”,
“We elected you to pass bills, I thank you for the harmonious relationship existing between the three legislators”, he said.
Our Reporter further recalled that the Taraba State House of Assembly on Thursday held a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Taraba State University of Tropical Agriculture and Climate Action.
The proposed university is billed to be sited at Sardauna local government area of the State.
Rt. Hon Abel Peter Diah
Speaking on behalf others, the member representing Mbamnga State constituency, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah who was a former Speaker of the State assembly, told the gathering that they were able to achieve their objective through harmonious relationship and team work.
Rt. Hon. Diah added that he was elected to represent his people at the state assembly in 2003 and since that time, he has chaired so many committees and sponsored so many bills.
“Of all the bills I have sponsored, non is so dear to me like the bill establishing a University at the Mambilla Plateau”, he said.
