By Suleiman Yakubu

The Community Association for Grassroots Transformation (CAGRAT), as a non-governmental and non-partisan organisation, was convinced that government in a representative democracy is a shared responsibility between the leaders and the followers.
The President General of CAGRAT, Engr. Dagaci Mohammed Etsugaie, stated this at the inauguration of the leadership, lecture, and national conference of the association, which took place at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna at the weekend.
He noted that CAGRAT aimed at assisting and complementing the efforts of leaders and government in creating opportunities for solving the developmental challenges of local communities.
In this regard, he explained that the followers must be conscious to participate in policy formulation or agenda setting, noting that it will give the citizens the justification to enforce responsibility on the representatives to make them accountable.
According to him, this is important "so that the real essence of democracy, which is good government for the betterment of the citizens, is not lost.".
He pointed out that the association has over the years toiled with increasing impatience occasioned by the envisioned prospects of the thought and desire to have the opportunity to play our roles in the unity and development of our communities and the nation at large.
"Our people have long waited for a clear and well-organised movement where they will have the opportunity to play their roles for the positive transformation of their communities and the nation," he said.
He said that the association deployed the democratic will of a well-organised grassroots social-oriented movement to assist in designing a roadmap to guide towards unity and general development within the ongoing democratic process.
The ceremony, according to Engr. Dagaci, marks the peak of a long wish of a generation of zealous, ambitious, and development-hungry groups of progressive-minded individuals brought together to put to good use their knowledge, civilization, creativity, and willpower needed for their contribution to the modern development and growth of their various communities.
Speaking earlier, the Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, charged the executive members of the association to partner with his administration to curtail the hoarding of agricultural commodities in the state.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to ensuring the production of foods through his agricultural agenda and the transformation of the green economy of Niger State, while assuring them of his administration's commitment to the transformation of the state in its developmental strides.
Highlights of the occasion included the inauguration of members of the executive committee and lecture delivered by eminent scholars.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said the state will honour and celebrate Nigerlites who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.
The governor stated this at a grand reception organised in honour of the retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad.
Governor Umaru Bago described Justice Musa Dattijo as a very nice and straight-forward man who has excelled in his chosen career, adding that he has done well and deserves all accolades.
He expressed concern over the inability of successive governments to immortalise or celebrate prominent Nigerlites who have made the state proud, pointing out that his administration will change the narrative.
He then called on other sons and daughters of the state to always strive to make the state proud through selfless and outstanding service to the nation.
He equally used the medium to call on all Nigerlites not to be obstacles to their own progress but to contribute their quota in any way possible as well as support the present administration in its developmental strides.
The farmer governor assured that his government would stop at nothing to ensure that the state was greatly transformed to compete favourably with other states.
In his remarks, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad said he was humbled by the honour done to him by the state government.
The elated celebrant, who went down memory lane from when he started his legal profession as a magistrate, called on the judiciary not to allow the judiciary to be compromised, as any society that lacks a just system will never have peace.
He equally called on all and sundry to support the governor towards achieving his vision for the state.
Other speakers at the event were Justice of Appeal Court, Justice Amina Wambai, Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, former minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and the State Attorney General, who doubles as Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mua'zu.
They showered encomiums on Justice Musa Dattijo for his selfless service to the state and country at large.
Friends and colleagues of the retired Justice also took turns in paying tribute to Justice Datijjo and the immense role he played in the country's judicial system.
The social gathering was also attended by an array of senior advocates of Nigeria who are Nigerlites, serving, and former political leaders, among others.
The event was climaxed with the launch of a book, which is a collection of legal materials, landmark decisions, tributes, and valedictory speeches by the celebrant and is dedicated to him.