Preamble
Consequent upon the sensitization of the views of critical stakeholders in the District and subsequent meeting with the Governor of the State, His Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello, at the Kogi state liaison office on Sunday, October 7, 2019 in Abuja, the Kogi West Elders Forum (KWEF), a body of non-partisan community leaders which comprises accomplished individuals in their various fields, has reviewed the current political, social and economic developments in Kogi West Senatorial District of the State and hereby issues this communique.
• The group drew inference from decisions taken at its preliminary meetings which largely pointed to the fact that the government of Kogi State and the people of Kogi West Senatorial District needed more collaborative effort and a marshal plan to advance the interest of the district with whoever is elected as the next governor of the State on November, 16, 2019.
• Particularly perturbed about what might be the fall out of the election and worried about possible violence before, during and after the election, the Forum found it expedient to task the governor to provide adequate security for the people and ban any of his aides or appointees from intimidating or harassing anyone during the election.
• Similarly, the group is concerned about the poor state of infrastructural development, unfair power-sharing equation, lack of payment of workers’ salaries and the nature of political appointments all of which were not cohesive and of no group advantage to the interest of the people of Western Senatorial District.
Resolutions
Consequent upon the above and arising from the deliberation between the governor and the Forum, we hereby adopt the following resolutions:
1. That the Forum will, going forward, engage in regular interactions with the government in order to achieve the aspiration of the people of Western Senatorial District.
2. The Forum welcomes the promise and commitment of the governor to protect the lives and properties of its citizens and combat any form of insecurity either on farmlands or in the communities caused by the activities of criminals and desperate politicians. To follow up on this commitment, the group resolved to engage with the government by setting up a security committee among its members who are retired ex-service personnel.
3. Whereas the government pledged to continue to pay salaries of workers, going forward, the Forum will monitor this to ensure that the government continues to pay the salaries of its workers including the local governments’ staff.
4. Whereas the government promised the completion of all ongoing projects in the Senatorial District, the Forum will set up a Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) that would regularly monitor the implementation of projects in the Senatorial District.
5. Conclusively and distinctly too , having gauged the political direction and reviewed the present power equation in Kogi State and without prejudice to any parochial interest, it is the considered opinion of the Forum to support the re-election of the governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the larger interest of the people of West Senatorial District.
Signed:
1. Gen. David M. Jemibewon (Rtd)
2. HRH Gen. Abdullahi B. Mamman Rtd
3. HRH Alh Idris A. Yusuf Tawari
4. Vice Admiral Ajayi Joseph Rtd
5. Gen. J.O.S Oshanupin Rtd
6. Chief Engr. Funso Ako
7. Dr. Oluwayomi David Atte
8. Col. Olusegun Oloruntoba Rtd
9. Dr. Tunde Arosanyin
10. Chief James O. Awoniyi
11. Chief Bayo Ojo SAN CON
12. Chief Benjamin Taiwo
13. Chief Funmi Bodunde
14. Dan D. Kunle
15. Alh Isiaq Ajibola
16. Deinde Abolarin
