Let me start by congratulating you on your re-election into the hallowed chamber of the Senate to represent Kogi West Senatorial Zone. I also commend you on your sterling and qualitative representation in your first term at the Senate.
Let me also say that your many efforts at correcting the wrongs meted to Kogi State since your election in 2007 have not gone unnoticed.
Kogi people, especially the Kogi West Senatorial Zone are, indeed, grateful to you. Indelible in our memories is the concerted effort you made when the case of siting a refinery in the state came up. Your untiring effort to see that the Governor Ibrahim Idris-led administration in the state reversed itself on the location of the refinery is still fresh in our minds.
Your effort to see that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Presidency reversed the decision to take one of the six federal universities approved for the country by the present administration, especially the one for the North- Central given to Nasarawa State is cited in Kogi State shall continue to remind us that we voted well in choosing you.
Many reasons you adduced to justify why Kogi should be the immediate beneficiary of the institution were marvellous, and history will ever remain kind to your noble intention.
Senator, to delve into all you have done in the Senate in the last four years will defeat the real intention of this letter. My reason for this is my concern for the state of the Ilorin- Egbe-Kabba-Obajana-Lokoja highway, both in Kwara and Kogi states. This road has continued to remain a source of worry to residents and motorists of the two states and other Nigerians who ply this route.
Although it is true that this road is a trunk ‘A’ road, but the present condition of the road has made it convenient spot for armed robbers. For motorists and commuters who ply the road in spite of the glaring danger, there is no alternative route. Most worrying are the deep ditches that have taken over the Lokoja-Ilorin Road. Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State to Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, your immediate constituency, calls for concern and immediate attention.
The Jege-Odo-Ere-Okoloko-Isanlu-Essa Road in the same Yagba West is also in a state of disrepair. Dear senator, you know that after the electioneering, Okun Development Association visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa on the state of infrastructure in Okun land.
Paramount among the demands was the repair of these roads and the domestication of Kampe Dan at Omi, which is almost forgotten.
Senator, after the long list of your achievements in the Senate, you must add this one that will almost complete the list, as your people and posterity will continue to remember it with recompense.
Ade Silas writes from Kaduna State.
