As Muslims all over the world celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festivities with pomp and pageantry, lots of food to eat and visits to friends and relations, Governor Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla is making sure that the less privileged partake of the blessings.
He has shelved the traditional Sallah visits to the Government House and opted to celebrate the Sallah with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Malkohi Camp, in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The camp has about 2,000 IDPs, with children and women making the highest number.
Governor Jibrilla arrived at Malkohi Camp in company of some members of his Executive Council and some Legislators amidst cheers by IDPs.
It was a moment for the displaced persons to forget their sorrows of having to stay away from their homes, following their displacement by the Insurgents.
The State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, in his speech told the IDPs that they had come to celebrate the Edi-el-Kabir with them.
This year’s Sallah was one with a difference, as there was a lot to eat and drink for the IDPs supplied by the government. Cooked food, drinks and snacks were provided for the IDPs.
The Governor did not only give a helping hand in the distribution but joined the IDPs in enjoying the meal alongside his Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The government officials later joined the children of the camp in a dance.
Speaking to reports at the event, Governor Jibrilla appealed to the Federal Government to hasten the reconstruction of areas recovered from Boko Haram so that the IDPs could return home and continue with their farming business.
Some of the IDPs appreciated the Governor for identifying with them and appealed for government’s assistance so that they could return home.
One of the IDPs, Maimunat Abdullahi, who spoke in Hausa language, said: “We really thank God for this year’s Sallah to receive the Governor and celebrate the Sallah with us.
“We thank the Governor. Our only problem is that we want the government to clear our villages of the remnant of the insurgents so that we can return home.
“Here we have learnt skills like making soap and Vaseline and knitting but another challenge is that we have a lot of unaccompanied children with us.
“We will require government assistance so that we can do business and take care of these children”.
Another IDP, Ibrahim, told reporters that he was so happy celebrating the Sallah with the Governor of the state.
“I thank the Governor for the food and I pray that God will bless him,” he said.
The Sallah celebration at the Malkohi IDPs Camp was an attempt to give them a sense of belonging by the Adamawa State government.
