The campaign organization of the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Leke Abejide, has called on Kogi state government to expedite action on the proposed university in Okun land.
In a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday, the Leke Abejide Campaign organization “appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello for the intention even though it is belated”.
The statement stated that establishing a state university in Okunland is an anticipated answer to the request of sons and daughters of the area, though long over due.
“The approval of another State University to be established in Okunland by the Yahaya Bello led Executive council is a cheering news to us. Even though it’s been greeted with mixed feeling in many quarters in view of the timing and sustainability.
“While we commend the gesture, it is however scary that the proposal is coming at the tail end of the governor’s administration. It is more scary as it is perceived as an injury -time ‘proposal’ laced with political overtures for a people the same governor denied all his previous promises of ensuring power-shift to their zone.
“The proposed State University in Okunland would have been taking seriously if it has happened the same time the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) kicked off in Osara, the governor’s senatorial district,” the statement said.
Leke Abejide Campaign demanded for the immediate execution of the proposal to show sincerity on the part of the governor, adding that Bello’s intents should be taking beyond election and political rhetoric as the issue at stake is more than political statement.
“Not that the Kogi West is perturbed if he failed to mark his word with action, afterall, Prince Abubakar Audu came and established Kogi State University in Anyigba, Eastern flank; and Yahaya Bello came and established CUSTECH in Osara, Central zone; so, if University is needed in OKUN Land, certainly an OKUN man in government House will decide better – no one can cut a man’s hair in his absence.”
The campaign organization also urged the state government to outline quickly how the university will be sustained.
“Already, there is a huge pressure on the welfare of the local government workers where 7 percent of their allocations are deducted monthly to sustained seven tertiary institutions in the state – Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; Confluence University, Osara; University College of Education, Ankpa; Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja; Kogi State Polytechnic Extension, Itakpe; College of Nursing, Obangede; College of Education Technical, Kabba; a development that continue to pauperise our council workers. At present, Confluence University is principally run by local government deductions putting the indigenes in abject poverty, while the existing Prince Abubakar Audu university, Anyigba is poorly funded.
“Funding challenge of four state Universities at the same time may reduce the institution to mere glorified secondary schools. We thought that the governor would have decentralized the Prince Abubakar Audu University into three with one Vice Chancellor; i.e: College of Medicine in Anyigba, School of Engineering in Osara and Faculty of Social Sciences and Environmental in Okunland.”
Leke Abejide noted that however the case maybe, “whether the intention is genuine or the political gimmick that the governor has sprung at many times, we want to state categorically and in bold letter that NOTHING WILL STOP THE QUEST OF AN OKUN MAN BECOMING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE IN JANUARY 2024. The liberation quest and rescue mission remain sacrosanct. Our mumu don do!”
