Routing for the consolidation of development in the state, the Kogi State Forum of Vice-Chairmen last week endorsed the re-election of Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada.
Chairman of the Forum and Vice-Chairman of Idah Local Government Area, Hon Paul Ukwenya, who led a delegation of his members on a courtesy call to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Abubakar Sadiq Ainoko, said their decision is borne out of the monumental achievements of the governor.
Hon. Ukwenya noted that Capt. Wada has excelled in infrastructural development in the state, stressing that the Forum will soon embark on house-to-house campaign to actualise their dream of returning the governor to Lugard House in 2015.
The Forum Chairman assured the PDP-led administration in Kogi State of their unalloyed support, noting that Kogi electorate is prepared to work for the consolidation of the governor’s administration in 2015.
Speaking on their poor welfare, Hon. Ukwenya appealed to the commissioner to persuade the local government chairmen to stop the payment of percentage salaries to them, saying political offices are tenured and may face the problem of payment of arrears of their salaries after leaving office.
He also said the vice-chairmen in the state are not being paid their imprest, duty-travelling allowance, vehicle maintenance allowance, furniture allowance while some of them are not allocated with sound vehicles to perform their official function.
They called on the commissioner to help them appeal to the council chairmen to accord them their statutory political rights to enable them perform their functions and serve the electorate effectively.
Hon. Ukwenya, on behalf of the Forum, presented to the Commissioner a letter and pamphlet for campaigns on Capt. Wada’s second term in office. He further assured the commissioner of their continued support to the PDP-led administration in Kogi State.
In his response, the Commissioner, Hon. Ainoko, thanked them for their visit and decision in endorsing Governor Idris Wada for a second term in office.
He declared that the governor has excelled in infrastructural and human development in the state and therefore deserves a second term.
Hon. Ainoko urged the Forum to work as a team in their quest to return Capt. Wada to Lugard House in 2015, adding that since the governor has performed satisfactorily there is no need for change.
The commissioner assured the group that he would convey their request to the council chairmen, noting that as elected representatives of the people, they deserve a fair treatment in the running of their offices.
Culled from The Graphic Newspaper
