F.G. Ibrahim Set to Transform Yagba East – Ganiyu Obaro

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The election of Alhaji Funso Ganiyu Ibrahim as the Executive Chairman of Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, is a unique opportunity for the people of the area to harvest bountiful democracy dividends, writes GANIYU OBARO

Activities at Isanlu, the headquarters of Yagba Local Government Area, Kogi State in the north central Nigeria have been upbeat in the past weeks, as the newly elected chairman of Yagba East Local Government Area, Alhaji Funso Ganiyu Ibrahim and his councilors settle down for serious business.

The people of the council area are optimistic that the current administration, which they freely elected on May 4, this year, will be a radical departure from previous administrations in the council area, by giving them greater democratic dividends and laying a more solid and robust foundation for the future development of the region in all spheres of human endeavour.

The good people of the largely agrarian communities in Ife-Olukotun, Ponyan, Isanlu, Oranre, Alu, Igbagun, Ejuku, Takette-Isao, Jege, among others, deserve quality leadership at this third tier of government, which they so cherished. This made them to troop out on that day to exercise their franchise freely, the same way electorates from the remaining 20 local governments in the state had done on that same day.

It is interesting to note that following the victory of F G as he is fondly called by his peers and hordes of admirers, at the primary election conducted by his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the consensus of opinion was that the aroma of victory of Alhaji Ibrahim at the poll was already percolating the various wards in the constituency. It was reasoned that the election would be a straight fight between himself and his closest rival in the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which has dissolved into the All Progressive Congress, APC, along with Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.

After a free and fair contest, Alhaji Ibrahim won the chairmanship contest, drawing along a chunk of the council seats while the ACN fought gallantly and nested a few councillorship slots. The attendant celebrations enveloped the entire constituency, in the Kogi West Senatorial zone like wild fire, as youths, students, farmers, artisans, traders, women and men relished F.G’s deserved victory with unprecedented funfair,  and yet very peaceful in their conduct.

Behind the euphoria of the victory, is the personality of Alhaji Ibrahim. Those who know him say that he is loved by anyone who comes in contact with him, because of his gentle, humble and extremely cerebral endowments.

Popularly called Azurri in his teenage years by his peers, Alhaji Ibrahim is a man who was born great. Like the Italian National Team, the Azuris, whose prowess in soccer is legendary, especially due to his sublime touch on the ball, courageous, intelligent and lethal finish F.G. is imbued with high intellect, candor, humility, doggedness and responsiveness. Some of his sterling attributes include being a charted accountant, a financial guru, a banker and administrator par excellence. He will no doubt impact positively on the good people of Yagba West Local Government Area during his administration.

A humble son of Ife-Olukotun, the new council boss is a role model and a benefactor to many people in the fast-growing town, the entire Local Government across Nigeria, and even beyond the Nigerian shores. He had secured jobs for scores of people in the banks, government parastatals and in his personal businesses. This has brought comfort to so many homes and alleviates their poverty in this challenging country of ours. He is poised to even do more by his popular victory at the polls.

All these and many more of his kind gestures, as a pious Muslim, husband and father; community leader and astute modern day politician have wrought for him, growing and uncommon followership.

According to Mallam Nuraini Saliu, an indigene of Ife-Olukotun, “F.G. is a very kind, humane and sound administrator. You need to get close to him to appreciate him.”

The council boss is an intellectual personality, judging by his intimidating credential. In 1979, he won the best student award in the West African School Certificate Examination in Ife-Olukotun, a laurel which was won by this writer the following year, (1980). He is also a chartered accountant, a professional qualification which he made in a record time, aside several academic and professional awards he had garnered in the course of his endeavours.

A man with the Midas touch, he hates laziness and detests lying. He associates freely with people. This enables him to have a wide network of friends, including politicians, religious leaders, and business associates, among other categories of people. A loyal party member, he is also a bridge-builder, between the old and the young.

But, what are the expectations of his people? Findings indicated that the people desire good roads to enhance transportation of people and goods within and outside the council area, with particular eye on facilitating commerce with the contiguous local councils like Kabba/Bunu, YagbaWest, Ijumu and Mopa-Amuro in this largely Guinea Savannah vegetated part of Okun Yorubaland.

They also want agriculture to be given adequate attention through the provision of necessary inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, and storage facilities to enhance value chain; employ young school leavers and retain old hands; reduce poverty through disbursement of soft loans through cooperatives.

 That is not all, as according to Mr. Timothy Adeyemi, an indigene of Ejuku, “Our people want the chairman to build more schools and rehabilitate the existing ones, built culverts to link communities and farm centres and provide greater welfare packages for the aged, women widows and other vulnerable members of the constituency.”

For Mrs. Raliat Kareem, an indigene of Igbagun, grinding machines, refrigerators, boreholes, dryers and lock up shops should be provided for the people to “Reduce our growing hardships.”

Analysts say that the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim, whom they describe as a tested and trusted personality would usher in a new and purposeful direction that would be the envy of all. For them, the support of Alhaji Hassan Salau, Kogi State PDP Chairman and F.G.’s kinsman, Governor Idris Wada and Deputy Governor Architect Yomi Awoniyi, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Bashorun Jide Omokore, among other political leaders, would be fully guaranteed. They say rural development will be given a fillip, youth empowerment and robust health care servicess would be provided, while financial prudence and transparency would be the hallmark of his government.

They may be right, as according to Mr. Ganiyu Umar, Alhaji Ibrahim “is a thorough-bred professional, so, we don’t expect anything less.”

 The council boss, had, at his inauguration, vowed to pursue the cause of the people through sound leadership. For him, it would not be business as usual.

However, to succeed, Alhaji Ibrahim must carry the people along, as the various communities in the area are his constituency. He must raise the internal revenue generating bar of the council by bringing into his tax net, potential  revenue points, such as creating more motor parks and strengthening the existing ones, building shops, complexes, event centres, markets, hotels/rest houses and engaging in transport business. This is the best way to augment the paltry statutory allocations from the Federal and State Governments, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the growing demands of the people.

Whatever his critics may say, which is expected, the show of affection, love, solidarity- pillars that most politicians labour to get-have been given to F.G. effortlessly by the people who elected him. It is upon it that Azurri rode into this exalted office and which may provide the strong foundation for his transformation initiative. For me, one can only wish him good luck, as he traverses this challenging terrain.


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