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.