The Afan Annual National Cultural Festival of the Kagoro Community in Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State will henceforth be celebrated as a Carnival instead of festival, due to the magnitude the event h assumed over the years.
The National President of the Kagoro Development Association (KDA), Mr Benjamin Gugong, disclosed this while speaking during the Annual National Festival and the marking of 10th year Anniversary of the Chief of Kagoro, Mr Ufuwai Bonet, on the throne, held on Tuesday at Fadan Kagoro.
Gugong said the event had incorporated diverse traditional performances from across the length and breadth of the country hence the change of the status of the festival to a carnival.
He, however, urged governments at all levels to redouble efforts at guaranteeing the security of the area for legitimate activities to thrive.
In a message at the occasion, the State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufa’i, who was represented by one of his aides, Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe, described the electioneering year of 2019 as a year full of prospects.
The governor called on the Kagoro community and other communities around to embrace the spirit of togetherness and shun all forms of discrimination against one another to pave way for a new beginning in the political life of Kaduna State.
Gov. El-rufa’i commended the Kagoro community for sustaining the annual Afan celebraion, which he said had over time, portrayed the community in good light to the rest of the world.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Andrew Yakubu, appealed to all sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna to close ranks and collectively move the area forward.
The Chief of Kagoro, Mr Ufuwai Bonet, lamented the menace of insecurity that still lingered in Southern Kaduna, adding that it was imperative of a purposeful leadership to ensure the protection of lives and property.
The Royal father, however, urged government to resist the temptation to show preferences when dealing with security matters to earn the confidence of the people.
The Guest Speaker, Bishop Mathew Kukah, represented by, Rev. Dr Shebayan, who spoke on the “Quest for Human Dignity” stressed the need to respect human dignity of all persons irrespective of status, creed and colour.
The clergy emphasised that God created all humans with dignity and His commandments regarding this virtue must be kept and respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion witnessed an unprecedented turnout of persons from all works of life.
