Abdullah Mohamed Ali Bilal Writes: Gezira State, Land of Culture, Tolerance, and Investment

I returned to Gezira State after two years of war that deprived me of continuing my agricultural activities and part of my investments with a friend. I found that Gezira had regained its vitality, and the city of Medani had returned to its beauty. The people of Gezira are known for their kindness and tolerance.

Gezira is distinguished by a rich cultural heritage that has no rival in the states of Sudan, making it a suitable candidate to be the capital of culture and tolerance and a model for normalizing civilian life to erase the psychological effects of war. I wish the Minister of Culture, Al-Aysar, would consider this matter urgently.

I walked around Medani and found that it had fully regained its vitality thanks to the management of the state government, which proved its presence during and after the war. I still stand by my proposal to transfer the Council of Ministers and some members of the Sovereign Council to the city of Wad Madani.

I visited my friend, journalist Mamoun Ali Farah, in his village, Wad Al-Majdi. Mamoun is the grandson of the poet Al-Hadi Adam. I was honored to hear from his mother, who memorized the Quran and was raised in the house of the great poet. I learned a lot about the Al-Hadi Adam family and their connection to education.

The Gezira is also home to many Sufi sheikhs who played a major role in spreading the culture of Sufism, which is based on brotherhood, acceptance of others, rejection of racism, and goodwill towards all. I am convinced that the culture of the people of Gezira is acquired from the Quranic schools that are widespread there, which led to the cohesion of its society.

Gezira is one of the most important states that offer investment incentives, especially in the agricultural, animal, and manufacturing sectors related to agriculture and livestock. I hope the government will focus on Gezira, which is a treasure trove of Sudan’s wealth and a backup for everything that supports the economy and national production.

When will the federal government focus on Gezira and make it the breadbasket of Sudan? When will the government restore the status and role of the Gezira project, which was the backbone of the economy and a national stronghold for the people of Sudan? When will our federal government rise above the legacy of central control and focus on the production states, led by Gezira?

I hope that the leader of the Government of Hope will ignite a beacon of hope for Sudan in the city of Wad Madani and make it the capital of Sudan.