I have read a lot of admonitions from Edward Onoja on the need for Igalas to embrace and re-elect his partner in crime, Governor Yahaya Bello, The is coming on the heels of his failed Enemuneme propaganda. He rolled out T-shirts and faz caps branded Enemuneme but the marketing failed to yield positive results.
In a renewed, desperate move to force Yahaya Bello down our throats, Edward Onoja is now bragging about a handful of road projects embarked upon by the governor in Kogi East as yardstick for extending their reign of terror in the state.
That also comes with relentless insults on former governors of Igala extraction. He has accused past governors from Igalaland of political violence, neglect of Kogi East and a host of other crimes. But unfortunately, these ‘under-performed’ governors are way better than the Yahaya Bello he is promoting. Despite their failings, each of the former governors from Igala land have to their credits more enviable projects than the colossal failure Edward Onoja is worshiping.
The first among the former governors from Igala land, late Prince Abubakar Audu has to his credit the establishments of Kogi State Polytechnic (with Osara and Itakpe campuses), Kogi State University, Anyigba, Obajana Cement Company, Stella Obasanjo Library Lokoja, Confleunce Beach Hotel, Confluence Radio Stations (Lokoja, Otite, Ochaja and Egbe), Graphic Newspaper, Housing Estates for civil servants and several others.
Audu’s successor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has to his credit the establishment of Kogi State College of Education (Technical) Kabba, Confluence Stadium Lokoja, Greater Lokoja Water Works, Kogi Specialist Hospital Lokoja, Otokiti and 500 Housing Units for civil servant. Ibro, as he is fondly called, built 70% of the current offices occupied by civil servants in the state. He elevated Kogi civil servants to the zenith of salary scale in North Central Nigeria. He began work on Kogi Diagnostic Centre and the state secretariat phase 2.
Captain Idris Wada has to his credits Allo Cement Factory in Itobe, completion of state secretariat phase 2 and Kogi Mega Terminal Lokoja. He laid the foundation for KSU Teaching Hospital, remodeled Kogi Hotels (a nearly completed project that Yahaya Bello is painting now to commission as his project for 3rd year anniversary). Wada paved way for N50.8b bailout to pay our long-suffering workers, N20b bond to finance the upgrading of welcome to Lokoja-Nataco junction road, construct new Otokiti-Ganaja dual carriage road, 250-bed Kogi State University Teaching Hospital, construction of 500 housing units in Lokoja, Okene and Anyigba, Kogi House in Abuja and other projects. As at the time he left, Kogi state was the least indebted state in Nigeria. He laid a solid foundation for any reasonable successor to excel but…
All these landmark projects are aside several road projects, electrification and water projects across the state. Igalas were massively employed and empowered by these lofty projects.
The Lokoja-Ajaokuta road Edward Onoja drives through anytime he is going to Kogi East was constructed by Audu and dualised by Ibro. The longest stretch of road in Lokoja, from Welcome to Lokoja to Nataco was constructed by Audu and dualised by Ibro. Wada began the modernization of the road with durable drainage before he left office.
Ajegwu Junction-Idah was constructed by Ibro. Idah township road was completed by Wada. Where was Edward when these Igala men constructed several roads in Ankpa, Anyigba, Ejule and other towns in Kogi East?
The recent preaching from Edward Onoja against Igala Agenda is nothing but a desperate attempt to turn us to bastards. The Igala leaders he is disparaging today governed Kogi State better than Yahaya Bello. Audu, Ibro and Wada carried out civil service reforms during the reigns but civil servants were not subjected to the inhuman treatment Yahaya Bello and Edward are subjecting them to today. Workers were not committing suicide then.
We are happy with the Ankpa and Okpo road projects embarked upon by Yahaya Bello but that is not enough to erase the evils perpetrated against the entire state through his outright lack of vision, non-payment of salaries and pensions, re-introduction of political violence and total poor performance.
We are not as tribalistic as Edward is trying to portray us. We believe in Kogi State that is for all but we won’t embrace failure just because one of our lost sons is benefiting from a failed government.
Our rejection of Yahaya Bello is not because of his faith or tribe but solely becausee is an unmitigated disaster to the state.
– Ojonugwa Adamu, Lokoja.
