Group photograph of dignitaries with the Mai Tula in his palace
By: Monday Munkaila, Gombe
The Tula Development Association (TDA) on Saturday, hosted its much-anticipated annual cultural festival at the Mai Tula Palace, an event aimed at showcasing, reviving, and harnessing the cultural potential of the Tula people.
The festival, which featured a variety of cultural dances and performances, brought together prominent figures and dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, representing Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alh. Usman Umar Kadafur, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abubakar Ibrahim Njodi, and former gubernatorial aspirant, Bala Bello Tinka, who served as the chairman of the occasion.
In his address, the Deputy Governor of Gombe, Manassah Daniel Jatau, praised Tula as a natural tourist hub, emphasizing the lands potential for economic diversification through tourism.
He encouraged the people of Tula to continue developing their cultural assets and urged them to nurture their traditions to prevent cultural erosion.
“The land of Tula is endowed with untapped tourist potential. It is important to preserve and develop this heritage to benefit the people and the entire nation,” he said.
His counterpart, Alh. Usman Umar Kadafur, Deputy Governor of Borno State, expressed his admiration for Tula’s natural beauty and its potential to become a key tourist destination.
He assured the Tula people of his support in transforming the region into a thriving tourist center for both the northeast and the entire country.
In a show of support, he pledged to assist with furnishing the Mai’s Palace when eventually completed.
Bala Bello Tinka, the Chairman of the event, congratulated the people of Tula for successfully hosting their annual festival. He emphasized the importance of establishing a tourist attraction in the area, highlighting the need to leverage Tula’s cultural wealth and terrain.
Bala Tinka also made a significant donation of N10 Million for the completion of the Mai Tula Palace and pledged an additional N5Million to the Tula Development Association to support their initiatives.
Mr. Iliya Suleman, Chairman of Kaltungo Local Government Area, also addressed the crowd, welcoming the dignitaries and encouraging attendees to enjoy the rich cultural heritage on display.
He reassured the TDA of his full support for fostering unity among the people of Tula and the Gombe South Senatorial District.
The Emir of Gombe, Alh. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, was represented by the Sa’in Gombe, Usman Umar Bello, who congratulated the Tula community for their commitment to celebrating their heritage through the festival.
The Mai Tula, Alh. Abubakar Buba Atare, expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries and attendees, stressing the importance of the festival in revitalizing Tula’s cultural legacy.
He called on all authorities to assist in making Tula a prominent cultural and tourist destination.
Earlier in the day, the Deputy Governors paid a courtesy visit to the Mai Tula, where they acknowledged the region’s rich tourist potential and pledged to support the efforts to establish Tula as a cultural hub.
The Mai Tula, in his address, recounted the historical significance of Tula, once the headquarters of the defunct Tangale-Waja Local Government Area. He noted the resilience and patience of the Tula people, who accepted the relocation of the local government to Billiri without protest.
The historical significance of the Tula region was further highlighted by the Mai Tula, who spoke of the administrative block constructed in 1938, which now houses the Emir’s reception room and a prison service that was once second only to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.
As a mark of respect for his contributions to the community, the Mai Tula conferred the traditional title of Kaigaman Tula on the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alh. Usman Umar Kadafur.
The event successfully showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Tula people while highlighting the region’s untapped potential as a tourist destination.
With continued efforts from the TDA and support from key stakeholders, Tula is poised to become a major cultural and tourism hub in the North East subregion and beyond.
Presenting the cash gifts to the students By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi Four outstanding students who excelled by scoring high marks in the 2024 Joint Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations have received the sum of N4 million as cash donations from...
Otunba Segun Showunmi, Convener, Alternative Movement By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi The Chief Comvener of the Alternative Movement, a political pressure...
