In every ideal Nigerian state , there are usually three senatorial districts or zones; east, west and central as we have in Kogi. But sadly to note that in Kogi, power have remained in the same region for 16 years. Monopoly and severe marginalization if you ask me.
The past and present leadership in the state have in the past years suffered her citizens of governmental benefits and rights, economic-wise the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer.
Each day we hear from the finance ministry speaking on how our state is growing economically in figures and one would be pushed to ask who are the beneficiaries? I don’t doubt the records, for over
the past five(5)years the number of Kogites that send their wards abroad or own private firms has tripled. while,on the other hand so many cant afford basic life amenities.
One won’t want to join the legion of buck-passing critics;what is however clear is that we are running an unhealthy system.
Take for instance,the level of survivor-ship of a young graduate who works in Lokoja and earns about #70,000 per month.That pay in real sense doesn’t worth anything, house rents are stunning and neck-twisting.To live in a decent place in Lokoja, Anyigba or Okene you will need at least #300,000 annually to service house rent.
Do you still wonder why there is high rate of insecurity in Kogi? The reason is however not far-fetched,there is a daily quest for survival among the worrisome trend of “Unemployed qualified
graduates” who out of frustration end up in criminal or other ferocious activities like cultism,kidnapping,arm&highway robbery, pick pocketing.
Education sector is in shambles, strike has become a norm, In conclusion, I sincerely urge our brothers and sisters in the east to support power shift for fairness and equity as we all look forward to ways in charting a new course for the future Kogi.Our state is richly blessed with vast mineral and human resources, that if well managed and evenly distributed everyone in this state will be living
slightly above average.
Let us forget about the contentious word “Sovereign” and let us join hands to develop our prosperous state Kogi.
Balogun Emmanuel Funsho is a graduate of University Of Ilorin, Ilorin.
He can be contacted via his mail irule9ja@gmail.com or on 07034444976
