Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu says, Kebbi State Government will partner with Yauri Emirate to sustain the Rigata and cultural festival to hold annually.
The governor announced this at the 2024 Rigata and Cultural Festival this Saturday in Yauri, Yauri Local Government Area.
He described the staging of the event this year as historic in view of various displays of Cultural events by people of different tribes in the Emirate.
The governor commended the Emir of Yauri, Dr. Zayyanu Muhammad Abdullahi for uniting the different ethnic groups in his domain while expressing delight with the exhibition of the rich cultural heritage of people of the emirate.
‘ What we see here is a clear testimony that Emir of Yauri has united his people,we learn so many things here and we have seen fantastic events ‘.
‘ Kebbi Government will partner with the emirate to sustain the festival’,he assured.
Kauran Gwandu also said the state government would ensure construction of a permanent site for the festival by next year.
Idris remarked that in line with his campaign promises to the people of the area, within eight months of his administration, Yauri and Ngaski have both witnessed some level of infrastructural development particularly in the construction of township roads.
‘ On Malando -Wara Road, I will join hands with the Minister to make sure FGN release funds to the contractor so that he can return to site .
‘ We have awarded contract for construction of Mega School in Yauri, 5 kilometres of roads in Yauri, Ngaski and Argungu .
‘ We are also update in the payment of salary, pension and gratuity which the HOS can testify.
‘ We have purchased 25,000 solar powered pumps and ordered additional CNG powered pumps for distribution to farmers free of charge ‘.
Idris assured that his administration would be fair in the distribution of the state’s resources to people of the State.
In his speech, the Emir of Yauri, Dr.Zayyanu Muhammad Abdullahi expressed immense appreciation to Governor Nasir Idris for his support to the success of the festival and putting the event on the world map as international tourism attraction.
The Emir is also thankful to Comrade Dr Nasir Idris for embarking on massive infrastructural development in Yauri and other parts of the emirate.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Rigata and Cultural Festival who is also the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida said the three day festivity featured exciting events that include agricultural show , cultural performances and Water sports depicting the rich tradition and marine prowess of Yauri people.
Alhaji Bala Tafida was emphatic that the Rigata festival has come to stay, saying that the Kauran Gwandu led administration would invest heavily to provide permanent structures for sustainability of the event.
Outlining the brief history of Yauri Rigata, Professor Nasiru Isah Yauri remarked that, Yauri has an ancient powerful history predating the Sokoto caliphate of which Rigata served as a hallmark of the identity of the people.
The Minister of State for Education, an indigene of Yauri, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu, commended Dr. Nasir Idris for promoting the Rigata festival to national recognition.
The Chief of Staff to President Tinubu ,Femi Gbajabiamila, Sadaukin Yauri, was represented on the occasion by former Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Garba .
Among the water events competed for include, boat race for men and women,swimming for both gender and other forms of display.
Other highlights of the event were display of Hippopotamus by the emir’s guards to the Governor and presentation of award to the Comrade Governor as well as other important personalities by Fulani and Zabarmawa communities in Yauri.
