It was Idowu Koyenikan who said and I quote: “When you do the things in the present that you can see, you are shaping the future that you are yet to see…”
Political events across the world have given credence to the above, even as Bradley Whitford further admonishes us to infuse our life with action and not wait for it to happen. “Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen… yourself, right now, right down here on Earth,” he said.
The best a progressive citizen can do for his country or society at large is to contribute to the peace and unity of his society. Peace and unity are the necessary ingredients in the making of good governance and quality leadership.
I plead with you all especially those saddled with political offices to shake away the dust of hatred, remove the cap of ethnicity and jettison the garment of opposition to draw the attention of the government to the brewing crisis along the boundaries of Kogi and Edo states, with a view to take decisive action and ensure justice is is served to avert gun and powder in the future.
Your excellency, you cannot see it all, not to talk of knowing it all. I am therefore here as an extension of your eyes and ears to see and hear on your behalf. My job is to relate with the authority and to ensure peace, unity and justice reign among the community. Remember we are better, stronger and useful together than divided. Good governance is everybody’s responsibility, including the citizenry.
Okene Local Government of Kogi State shares boundary with Etsako East Local Government area of Edo state. The two communities of Agama in Okene LG and Afo-Okpella in Etsako East LG of Edo State is divided by a river called Onyo-Evu. The Agama community, which is under Okene local government, hosts the second largest cement company in Nigeria, BUA Cement Plc. Unfortunately, the Okpella community has been enjoying the dividends of that opportunity.
There are indisputable facts to show that the area being described belongs to Okene Local Government Area. Some of these facts are:
Fact 1
Onyukoko ward in Okene Local Government has a pulling unit 001 located at a Primary School in Agama till date.
Fact 2
Agama Primary school is under the control of LGEA, Okene and the primary school is still functioning till date.
Fact 3
A renovated Primary Health Center under the administration of Late (Hon.) Salihu Ohize between 2003-2007 is still in Agama community. The late chairman also drilled a well for the people of Agama and labelled same as a project of Okene local government.
Fact 4
Under the administration of Alh. Yahaya Karaku, Okene LG constructed the access road from Agama to Onyo-Evu river with culverts links, and labelled in the name of Okene Local government.
It is therefore disturbing that given the above facts, the area described have deposits of raw materials that are currently being harnessed by companies that pay taxes and loyalties to the Edo State people and government. Fertilizers, Quarry among other raw materials are being explored.
This, in my opinion, is abnormal and should be corrected before it degenerate into communal crisis.
Information reaching me has it that the Okpella community in Edo State currently allocated a vast hectares of our land as burial ground, mosques, churches, some for fuel stations and other businesses, yet nobody is taking any action to halt the ceaseless encroachment.
It is said, if you cannot expand your territory try not to loose the one you have else in no distance time you will be banished out of the community. Let the right authority take this matter up with the Edo state governor His Excellency Godwin Obaseki and the His Royal Highness, Oba of Benin for with effort to reach resolve the matter before it gets out of hand.
As I write this, the Agama community are already groaning and it is a question of time before they take laws into their hands in self-defence.
I call on the state government to wake up to her responsibility because BUA cement company alone generate over N1B as revenue to Edo state government monthly while youths from Edo state have been gainfully employed. We must balance this for posterity sake.
No wonder Anthon St. Maarten said “No more excuses. No more self-sabotage. No more self-pity. No more comparing yourself to others. Time to step up. Take action right now and and demand for justice is now.”… You have the power, authority and all the evidence wrapped with the one I share in this article.
I can guarantee you your excellency that if this land be won back, percentage salaries to LG workers and primary school teachers will be a thing of the past and the state economy will jump up while job opportunity will be created for our youths.
I speak in this manner because our local farmers are constantly under threat and intimidation from the people of Okpella community using military men attached to BUA cement company. Information at my disposal shows that the youths of Okpella, backed by Edo state government, are planning to vacate our farmers from the entire Agama community through violence to pave way for total annexing of our land. Recently, I have a credible information of violence between the youths of the contesting communities but the quick intervention of the security agencies within the area calmed the situations.
Your Excellency, His royal Highness and honorable commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affair this is injustice administered to the people of Kogi Central and the state at large, You will agree with me that Edo state government have refused to act despite court judgment in favor of Kogi state. This judgment was delivered by Appeal Court in Abuja on 28th February, 2018 in favour of Alh. Musa Onusagba and on behalf of Ehebe clan Okene Kogi State.
Permit me to say this, you might have had the knowledge about this boundary crisis. Yes knowing is knowledge but knowledge is not power. It’s only potential power. It only becomes power when we apply it and use it…Somebody who reads a book and doesn’t apply it, they’re at no advantage over someone who’s illiterate. If knowing is half the battle, action is the second half of the battle.” Your excellency, take action and save the lives of your citizen in that area.
Itayi Garande said “The real measure of intelligence government is action. Don’t wait because the time will never really be right. If you don’t start, you have already failed before you begin”. Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, act now before is too late.
The wisdom of the fathers in land dispute cannot be compare with that of the young men because of the experience. Your Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, look into this matter to add more feather to your crown. Taaru Ohinoyi.
It is weakness and dishonorable to any leaders who pay lip service in land dispute and allow it to escalate, for this would eventually claim the life of their citizen.
Okene LG Chairman this is your battle, the ball is in your court to push for justice and peace between your people and Edo community….wake up now.
– Ogo’Ogu M.D., a concerned citizen of Kogi Central.
