Dance, songs and ecstasy pervaded the arena at Adadama village, Abi Local Government, Cross River State, where the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu was hosted at a reception by her kinsmen shortly after Christmas.
Hundreds of men, women and children waved the national flag as they sang praises of President Bola Tinubu, thanking him for appointing their daughter as a minister and particularly for making a good choice.
It was Dr Edu’s first home-coming after her appointment as minister and she didn’t disappoint her people, distributing empowerment and vocational skills acquisition tools to 2,200 men and women, among them People with Disabilities.
The seemingly messianic visit was not unexpected owing to her passion and dedication to duty. Indeed, the people of Adadama expressed pride for the hard work of the minister that has earned her accolades home and abroad.
The entire Local Government and Cross River state by extension subsequently pledged full support to the administration, saying only a “President Tinubu” can take the bold step to bring young people in their thirties into the Federal Executive Council not to talk of considering someone from their village.
Dr Edu assured Nigerians that in 2024 they will witness an unprecedented victory over poverty such as has never been in the history of this country under President Tinubu, promising that millions of people will bear testimony of recovery from poverty and joblessness.
“We will deploy all approach humanly possible until we get results. Cross River people will also benefit from the social protection intervention of President Bola Tinubu’s administration”, she pledged.
The Obol Lepon of Ugep and the Eval Adadama, both traditional rulers in the area, thanked President Tinubu for the great privilege of having their daughter in government even as they affirmed confidence in Dr Edu’s ability to attain the goals of her mandate.
The royal fathers recalled how she built health centers for the community and has religiously paid fees for every child in the ward for about a decade. She has always had a humanitarian heart and is best fit for the job, they chorused.
Those who passed through the vocational training for two days on different skills got their starter packs at the event. While some were registered in cooperatives and empowered to set up micro businesses with strict monitoring. The beneficiaries were carefully selected through a rigorous process that ensured only the very poor, vulnerable and sick were considered.
It was indeed endless celebration by people who have faith in their daughter’s ability to deliver on the Renewed Hope mandate.
