By Adejo Paul Ameh, Ajaka.
Igalamela/Odolu Local Government area of Kogi state is a place where many voices sing about the unbeatable beauty of Elder Friday Sani Makama. It is a place where the young and old, men and women, youths and elders have carved the image of Honorable Makama’s leadership quality in their mind, body and spirit. The reason is not far fetched; he does not posses the demurred demeanor of a benevolent dictator.
Worthy to mention is the fact that Honourable Elder Friday Sani Makama does not impose project on his people but ask the primary needs of the people before embarking on it. Before now, nobody knew there was money at the Kogi State House ofAssembly until Elder Friday Sani Makama emerged as the people’s representative and unveiled the gospel truth during his biannual constituency briefing, a rare feat not common among his contemporary House of Assembly Members to be reckoned with
Igalamela/Odolu constituency has being relegated and under represented at the 6th Kogi State House of Assembly, Lokoja. This occurred as a result of frivolous suspension meted out to the representative of the people and the voice of the voiceless, Friday Sani Paul Makama for raising a motion of urgent importance on non-payment of workers salaries in the state. The nonpayment has indeed generated untold hardship, diseases and death to many families bread winners and pillars of homes.
It could be recalled that Senator Ali Ndume was suspended from thefloor of the Senate for six months. A competent Court of jurisdiction declared the suspension null, void and of no effect. Today, Ndume is back to his legislative duties without mob attack. The reverse is the case with Honorable Friday Sani Makama who was welcomed from six months suspension with trenchant rage from the “Almighty “ governor of Kogi State Yaya Bello and his cronies.
Amidst this political shenanigans, Igalamela/Odolu Constituency has not for one day lost confidence in Makama because he is pragmatic, proactive, progressive in action, dogged and well known for purpose-driven leadership role.
Today, Honorable Elder Friday Sani Makama has flagged off the phase 2 of road rehabilitation, an economic-driven initiative. This becomes imperative knowing fully well that the APC led administration in Kogi headed by a draconian leader suspended Igalamela/Odolu constituency allowance for over twenty two months. This is with a view to keep the people marginalized and in abject poverty. However, the constituency entitlements can be suspended but the mandate of the people entrusted in the hands of Honourable Friday Makama cannot be subverted as far as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned.
Phase2 of the road rehabilitation is between;
- Ayah to Ibochi and to Ajaka the headquarters of Igalamela/Odolu LG
- Epete – Uwowo- Ogbogbo road
This is affirmed by the fact that a successful city is not one where the rich drive but also take public transport. Honourable Makama believes we cannot enjoy a new world of mobility without aggressive public transport policy.
The current economic indices and leadership trend suggest a lot of people must return to farm to survive. The question Makama usually asked begging for answer is how will the farm produce reach the target consumers at affordable price ? The standard of living remains high, harsh and unbearable if the cost of transporting goods from Ayato Ibochi to Ajaka Market is not moderated by a well define policy, state of the art facilities for low cost transport system and good roads at the grassroot level. A leader who fails to make grassroot road rehabilitation a priority is simply wicked because that is the source of wealth, feeding and survival of people at the metropolis across the globe.
No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credits for doing it.
Speaking on behalf of Makama, Hon Joseph Utenwulojo Kadiri, a man who keenly contested PDP House Assembly seat with Elder Friday Makama congratulated the communities benefiting from this kind gesture and assured them of more projects which will have direct bearing on their lives will come their way.
The Chairman Ward 1 Ajaka, Mr. Faruana, aka ‘I shall return’, was the first to react to this epoch making event and road rehabilitation flag off.
“Makama is not the first person elected and mandated to represent the people. However, the leadership quality showcased so far is second to none. Is it the distribution of primary needs of the people like engine, motorcycle, generator, sowing machine to mention but a few. Nobody ever knew there was money to cater for people’s need at Kogi State House of Assembly. All we were use to is nothing but cock and bull story.
“Makama is the only leader who has not sent his children abroad with public money or build mansion away from home withthe masses allocation. We endorsed his third term to cushion the devastating effect of purported suspension meted out of him and prove to the whole world he is a protégé of a classical politician who knows the pains of the masses at the home front democracy,” he said.
The Onu of Aya, ably represented by his lovely wife, Mrs Juliana Boniface pointedly said: “Makama is my son right from his primary school days to the secondary level. We have lived together at Opuata Idah in those days. Makama is always in my house. Since God destined him to be in this position, he has not looked down on anybody. In Ayah, Makama provides the basic needs of the people up to the level constructing of Mosque, Church building and so forth. My prayer is that God will continue to protect and guide his coming and going.”
Aya youth leader, in his remarks said; “today is a happy day for the people of Aya, Ikelegu, Ibochi, Ajaka.”
This was corroborated by Chief Emakoji Otidi, a man always young at heart.
“Anyone planning to cause setback for Makama, Friday Sani will land directly on the person’s head keeping him at the top all the time. The road marked for rehabilitation is so significant in our lives. Whoever is coming from Northern Nigeria, Lokoja to the Eastern part of the country will not go to Idah before accessing the road to Nsukka, Enugu or Onitsha axis. The road is deteriorated making live difficult for the host communities as well as travelers across Nigeria, the rehabilitation will make it a thing of the past.”
Contributions from Idachaba Reuben Dexy, Igalamela and Isah Salisu Umar, Ajaka.
