An Abuja-based socio-cultural association working for the development of Gwaram Federal Constituency, Gwaram Abuja Residents Association (GARA) has sympathized with the family of Hon. Yuguda Hassan Killa who died in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the group ‘will continue to pray for the repose of his soul.’ Until his death, Mr Yuguda Hassan Killa represented Gwaram Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Chairman of the Association, Alh Comr Hamza Mohammed who expressed the condolence during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, lamented that ‘although the association deliberated crucial issues with Killa while he was alive, not much was achieved,’ stating that the association will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to champion the development of Gwaram Federal Constituency and Jigawa State as a whole.
Discussing the state of the proposed Gwaram Power Sub-Station project for which budgetary allocation was made in the 2020 budget, Mr Hamza said: ‘I can confirm to you that substantial budgetary allocation was made for the Gwaram Power Substation project in Year 2020, but no progress has been made regarding the execution of the project.’
He said ‘one sad fact is that this is not the first time that the Gwaram Power Substation project is captured in the budget, but those in position of authority who are supposed to see to the actualization of the project failed to carry out the task for which they were elected.’
The Chairman, who lamented that unnecessary negligence of relevant authorities is responsible for the delay in the project said ‘the sum of three hundred million Naira was allocated to the Gwaram Power Substation in the 2016 budget of the National Assembly, and we expected all stakeholders in government at the time to work together to ensure that allocated funds are utilized for the set goal, unfortunately, they failed.’
He called on the youth and leaders of thought in Gwaram Federal Constituency and entire Jigawa State to rise up and defend the development of the State by ensuring that only citizens who are patriotic to the cause of the constituency are elected into public office.
‘We wish to draw the attention of Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State and various political office holders in the State, and in Gwaram Local Government Area to facilitate the involvement of the people electoral processes, adding that only those who can defend the interest of Gwaram are fit for political office.
According to Hamza, ‘the people of Jigawa State, particularly the electorates at Gwaram Federal Constituency must rise up to the responsibility of electing legislators who will defend the interest of the electorate.’
Further discussing the implication of the negligence of legislators that led to the loss of budgetary allocation for the power substation project, Hamza said: ‘As a result of the negligence, the sum of three hundred million naira which was voted for the execution of the proposed Gwaram Power Substation project was diverted to the Gagarawa project.’
‘I know this much because at a meeting in Government House, some stakeholders were persuaded to allow the virement to take place because according to them, the money would be utilized in the same state of Jigawa, and I remember that the stakeholders agreed banking on a promise that the Gwaram power Substation will be a priority project in the following year.’
‘As God would have it, the sum of seven hundred and seventeen million Naira was allocated to Gwaram Power Substation in the 2020 budget, but to our greatest surprise, the project was suspended after it reached tender level due to negligence and inability of our elected federal lawmakers to follow it to logical conclusion,’ he explained.
The Chairman recalled that at some point in the advocacy of the association for the actualization of the Gwaram Power Substation project, the group threatened to recall the Senator who was representing Gwaram Central Senatorial District and his counterpart in the House of Representative, Hon. Yuguda Hassan Killa, ‘but they called us to a meeting and assured us of their commitment, unfortunately, the set goal is yet to be realized,’ he added.
Comr Hamza called on the people of the constituency to work unitedly for the execution of the Gwaram Power Substation project, stating that it is for the benefit of all.
