.Dishes out cars, motorcycles, donkeys to widows, orphans, and the less privileged
.Provides free fuel at filling stations
Malama Sadiya Abdullahi wept continuously to the podium to collect the keys of a Peugeot 806 wagon car she won from a lottery. The mother of 12 couldn’t hold back the tears of joy that were flowing down her cheeks. She was of full praises to God and to the philanthropist, Alhaji Umar Abdulahi Tsauri-Tata, who made it possible for her to become a car owner. This sums up the over 10,000 widows and orphans who have so far benefitted from the philanthropic deeds of Tata.
Tata, who is currently an assistant director in the Ministry of Defence, has shocked many in Katsina with his spending spree. He is believed to be sowing the seed for his victory in 2015 political dispensation; but it is not clear if he is eyeing Governor Ibrahim Shema’s or senatorial seat. But our reporter gathered that he is a close associate of The Presidency and may have been encouraged by Abuja.
The lottery above was among the several schemes initiated by the philanthropist, aimed at empowering not only the less privileged but the entire society. At least 200 mosques are so far benefitting from this gesture, even as he has also embarked on a youth empowerment programme, where about 30 tankers got free fuel at filling stations.
Beneficiaries of this politically-motivated philanthropic gesture, which took place at Funtua, Daura and Katsina senatorial districts respectively, went through a selection process conducted by a religious group, Jama’atu Izalatus Bid’a WaIqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS).
Winners emerged through a raffle draw after proper screening by the committee vested with that responsibility. Sunday Trust gathered that there is also a cash price of N1 million, which has been won by no fewer than five persons.
At Funtua zone, widows numbering at least 3,080 received skills acquisition and empowerment tools worth 150 million while Daura zone witnessed the distribution of goods worth over N60 million to 2,500 widows. These were all in a bid to empower widows and orphans in the state. The widows were drawn from the 11 local government areas of the zone. The Katsina zone witnessed the grand finale, where 12,747 widows and orphans benefitted from items worth several millions of naira.
Items distributed include 30 buses, 70 tricycles, 250 motorcycles, 144 deep freezers, 574 drums of kerosene and 1, 050 knitting machines, 3,500 sewing machines, 1,200 spaghetti-making machines, 260 vegetable-grinding machines, 200 jerry-cans of vegetable oil, 693 bags of beans and 1,200 bags of flour.
It was also gathered that he sponsored a mass wedding recently, where more than 200 persons participated. Couples were given complete furniture sets, tools for empowerment, amongst other things.
Tata, who is also the chairman of Naka Sai Naka Foundation, said no amount of money spent to improve the lives of widows and orphans would be too much. He said all the candidates were screened to ensure that the items did not end up in wrong hands.
“If people, especially widows and orphans, as well as youths in the society are better off, crime rate will be drastically reduced,” he said, and advised beneficiaries not to sell the items but use them to their advantage.
Speaking to our reporter, the coordinator, Naka Sai Naka Foundation, Alhaji Tijjani Mamman-Maidawa, commended the politician for the philanthropic gesture and urged him to sustain the initiative. He urged other well-meaning individuals to emulate the gesture, saying, “Taking care of orphans and widows is one of the deeds being neglected in the society.”
In his remark, the chairman, Orphanage Welfare Committee, JIBWIS, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Aminchi Funtua, whose organisation was used to facilitate the gesture, thanked Tata for his efforts and charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the materials to make their lives better.
Alhaji Umar Abdulahi Tsauri-Tata, whose campaign posters are at some strategic places in the state, is said to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But speaking to Sunday Trust, spokesman of the PDP in Katsina State, Mohammed Sukuntuni, said Tata is just playing to the gallery as his attitude is alien to the party. He wondered why the politician goes about his programmes and activities without seeking audience, advice or approval from the party. He said that as far as he was concerned, Tata is not a true member of the party since he doesn’t have respect for party leadership or stakeholders.
Also speaking, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shittu Shittu, said that Tata is not their member; hence there was no need to discuss his affairs. He, however, added that the politician might be making an underground move, having come from the same place with the incumbent governor, saying that his actions do not concern the APC.
Shittu concluded that the philanthropist might be playing a political game, either positively or negatively, probably to prove a point to the governor.
He was born on February 14, 1968, to the family of the late Alhaji Abdullahi Tsauri and Hajiya Binta Abdu Tsauri in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, and has worked in many places, including the Federal Civil Service Commission, Voice of Nigeria, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna, Unipetrol Nigeria Plc, and Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
Source: Daily Trust
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