Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi on Thursday described the Etsu Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, as a pillar of national unity.
The governor made this known while receiving a delegation from the Emir on courtesy at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation was in Birnin Kebbi to thank the governor for appointing a Nupe man, Alhaji Ahmed Idris from Niger, as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).
The governor said: "Nationally, when you talk of Etsu Nupe, people will say that yes, he is a good man, a philanthropist, and an Emir that always works to see that North and Nigeria stay as one family.
Idris said: "We have no reason whatsoever not to thank the emir for giving us his son to come and serve with us here in Kebbi, and we have not regretted working with him. Ahmed is a truly seasoned journalist to the core—a Journalist without sentiment and a journalist who knows the job.
"Ahmed Idris is a Nigerlite, and Kebbi is his second home. I knew him in the past 30 years; I worked with him as my best man when I was Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and also Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kebbi State."
The governor recalled that the history of Gwandu in Kebbi and Bida in Niger was an old and lasting one that bordered on boundary sharing, cross-marriages, and cross-businesses, among others.
Idris said that Gov. Umar Bago of Niger has been his close friend, adding that they share so many things in common for the benefit of the two states.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Jakadan Labaran Nupe, Alhaji Muhammad Baba-Busu, said they were in Kebbi to convey the message of the Etsu of Nupe to the governor and people of Kebbi.
He said the emir was highly elated for finding his subject worthy of the position of Chief Press Secretary in Kebbi, assuring that the appointee would never disappoint the governor and the state at large.
Baba-Bussu used the medium to commend the governor for starting on a very sound footing towards bringing positive transformation to the state, assuring that all Nupe people will sustain prayers for the governor to effectively deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
An Ilorin-based legal practitioner, Mr. Mubarak Lawal, has called on journalists and other media practitioners in the country to promote the rich African culture.
Lawal, who made the appeal in Ilorin on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said media practitioners must do more to project African culture to the world.
According to him, African culture is rich and deserves to be seen on the international scene for the world to appreciate.
"It must start with the journalists. There is a need to focus and write more on African culture for the world to see.
"It is something every African should be proud of. It is something we must always celebrate annually.
"Write on our rich food, entertainment, dance, music, dressing, and other important aspects of African culture.
"We can show them many hidden cultural heritages in Africa. We must force it on them," he said.
The legal practitioner, however, advised journalists to focus more on reporting African culture than on political reports.
Besides, he advised journalists to focus more on reporting positive news about Africa.
Lawal also called on the government at all levels, NGOs, and stakeholders to invest in culture and tourism.
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