…assures him of bloc votes.
By Yusuf Abubakar.
Ibaji Community, under the chairmanship of Engineer Gandy, has donated fifty thousand Naira (N50,000) to prosecute the quest to return Senator Atai Aidoko Ali to represent Kogi East in the 9th senate.
According to the Ibaji leader, the meagre amount was to complement the activities of canvassers working for the re-election of the senator, and assured him that the people of the area have resolved to vote massively for all PDP candidates, and to ensure the victory of senator Atai Aidoko Ali in Kogi East.
The body commended efforts of the senator towards the resolution of Ibaji oil and stressed the need to redouble efforts towards declaring the area and state an oil producing status.
He said the area is not unaware of a lot of projects of the senator scattered round the community, but prayed for more opportunities, as the area is yearning for more development in the area of physical, human and capital development, to mitigate the dearth of progress in the area.
Engineer Gandy stressed the need to embark on a routine interactive session as the area is the home of PDP since the return of democracy in 1999, and has resolved to keep to the status quo.
Gandy appreciated the visit of the senator at the instance of the Ibaji people and promised not to let him down in the forthcoming elections.
He said the visit was a reassurance to the senator that Ibaji local government is a no go area to any other party aside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates, from top to button, in February.
Speaking earlier, Senator Aidoko commended the entire Ibaji nation for its bold step towards his bid to return to the senate, describing the fatherly donation as the first in his political life, for over two decades, and will serve as an encouragement to do more to the people of Kogi East.
He used the opportunity to detonate the insinuation that his office in the last eight years had no constituency projects, saying his compendium contains over 100 projects ranging from rural roads, water, electricity, school classrooms, skill acquisition centres, computer centre, hospitals, clinics and empowerment. He stated that his office is open for challenge on the presence of this projects in the various communities of Kogi East.
He acknowledged the fact that he does not believe in publicity but posterity. Even at that, his constituency projects are everywhere in Kogi East.
Senator Aidoko stated his readiness to remain accountable and responsive to the plight of the people, and expressed that he is overwhelmed by the decisions of the Ibaji people to support him materially and financially.
Senator Aidoko said efforts are in top gear to ensure the quick resolution of Ibaji oil, while thanking the elders of the areas for recognising his efforts.
“The general believe in Kogi East was that nothing is being done about Ibaji oil by me at the senate, even though I am directly involved, but my vindication today comes from the area that are directly involved,” he said.
Kogi East senator said apart from the Ibaji oil, he attracted a Bio resource centre of NABDA at Idah, that specialised in acquatic training and retraining and will add more value to the people in the area of employment and capacity building.
“We had attracted over 11 containers containing acquatic equipment that will encourage commercial fish processing and production in Igala land particularly the Idah and Ibaji speaking area.”
He advised the people not to renege on their collective decisions to vote for PDP as the present administration had deployed all means to push the electorates into doing their bid.
Aidoko described the people of Ibaji as a very sincere and respected entities in all facets of our development, saying he will take them by their words.
