A gubernatorial aspirant for the Kogi State gubernatorial election, coming up in November, under the platform of the All Ptrogressives Congress, APC, Barr James Ocholi, SAN, has decried the high rate of poverty among the Igalas despite the ethnic group producing the three governors that have governed the state since its creation more than 20 years ago.
Barr Ocholi, who is seeking nomination to fly APC’s flag in its primaries coming up on August 29, told party’s delegates who will represent Omalla Local Government Area of Kogi State at primaries on Wednesday that these leaders’ greed and pursuit of personal and narrow agenda were responsible for the under-devopment of the Igala-speaking area of the state.
Accusing past leaders of the state of pauperising their people with the diversion of the commonwealth and execution of white elephant projects, which have little or no bearing on the welfare of the people, Ocholi said: “I am at pains over the backwardness of my people.
This part of the state cannot boast of a viable industry, it has no hotel of national and international repute; or any visible development one can point at. “Rather these sons of Igala extraction who have ruled the state have houses in Europe, America and elsewhere.
This is no doubt a great waste. How many days are they going to stay in these houses?” He promised to give attention to programmes and projects that will uplift the welfare and standard of living of the Igalas and other ethnic groups in the state, adding that though he had risen to top of his profession by becoming a SAN, he was not born with a silver spoon. He said: “I have tasted poverty in the real sense of the word.
I lost my father when I just finished my secondary school at 18. The task of fending for the family made of my mother and six siblings fell on me and my mother who is now deceased. It was not an easy experience as I hard to work tooth and nail to overcome poverty.” He added that having experienced poverty in its crudest form, the last thing he would ever do is to betray the trust of his people with their resources if he is given the mandate to govern the state.
APC chairman in Omala local council, Mr Danjuma Baba thanked Barr Ocholi and his team for taking time to visit the area, praying that God Almighty will crown his efforts to become the next executive governor of the state. Baba described Ocholi as epitomizing the new face of change, assuring that his people will give him the required support to realise his dream of governing the state.
