For days now, my mind has been burgled on the issue of Idah – Agenebode bridge. As a little boy, I have played and traveled across the River Niger from Idah to Agenebode; some times at night; in the middle of the night crossing from Agenebode on my way from Lagos to Idah. What a fear and exiting experience after all. So when the news of the flag off came like a dynamite, I was startled so much that the nostalgia of the events of those days continued to come by.
Not withstanding, I had to be careful and look at the situation; most especially when the opposition has rubbished the news on arrival. My curiosity won’t let me take one side. So I decided to make little inquiries on the matter.
My findings is the reason for this write up. I am asking the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Government of Kogi State, or any political appointee from Kogi state, especially those from Kogi East and most especially the one from Idah, my very good friend Hon. Sani Ogu Salisu, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports to please answer the following questions:
1. When was the idea for Idah-Agenebode bridge conceived, by who, who is responsible (state or Federal). I am asking this question because all projects that were to be done by Federal Govt. were captured in the 2019 appropriation proposal which is under scrutiny by the Senate.
My findings revealed that Idah Agenebode bridge is not part of the projects captured. So there is a need to tell us where this is coming from. Especially when we are aware that the bridge is a Federal Govt project, because of the nature of work, the location (interstate) and it is also a project that will open window from the Northern to the eastern zone of the country.
2. If the project is for the Federal Government, all the beneficiary states through their representative would have been around on the occasion of it flag off. States like Edo and even Anambra would be path of this because of their peculiar interest. Why did that not happen?
3. Why was the flag off thing done by kogi state government when the No 2 citizen, Prof Yemi Osinbajo was around and refused to participate in the occasion. How can a Governor perform the responsibility of a president whose vice is also at a venue of an event. Has lawlessness taken over our society?
4. The meaning of Grand breaking ceremony, as it was captured, is actually to break the ground and commence work, was that the case in Idah-Agenebode bridge? If yes, who is the contractor and when is the project completion time?
5. How much is the project going to cost us and from which pocket are we getting the money. Let’s assume its a charity organisation that wants to do this project, pls can we know them, and were they present at the so called ground breaking ceremony?
6. Apart from this ground breaking ceremony that looks like a trap of deceit, is there any other project that was done and commissioned in Idah or anywhere in Kogi east that may give hope, that government meant what they have said.
7. Coming back to the state, what is the state of our budget, if the state is the one thinking of this white elephant project, have we captured it in the budget. In fact is that our priority, how is the state of the road that leads to Kogi East, even Lokoja Metro, how is the road going to Okene, or the one to Kabba, how it the state of our affairs and even ordinary payment of salaries?
The truth is that this govt has no idea or they have ran out of it. This govt has no respect from average kogi state people and the earlier they realised this, the better.
For the records, Kogi state is the most Educated state in northern Nigeria, to come up with such show of shame is an insult on our collective intelligence.
We must rise up with voice of reason to speak against falsehood and those who have laid seize to our commonwealth for so long a time. If we don’t speak and act now, then we all will be consumed by their criminality, insincerity, insensibility, intolerance, self centeredness and egocentrism.
As a Forum, Kogi Liberation Movement condemns any act that tends to subvert the interest of our people and we will continue to do so at all times.
Earlier this morning, we have raised an alarm of attempt by some faceless people not necessarily from kogi state to malign us and other people in our businesses, working places etc. We call everyone not to relent or be afraid of such act because as a people only truth can safe us from all plots of plotters.
We condemned this act of April fool in October by Governor Yahaya Bello and his group of politicians who have seen nothing good in the people who never voted them to power and have continued to call all of us tenants in our own state. As the November 16 gets closer, we are calling on all well meaning Kogites to test their power through the ballot.
We have on a very valid account that the so call Idah-Agenebode road was never captured in any budget proposal but even if it has been captured, what is the desperation of performing a ground breaking ceremony when there is no approval. We will not fall to such blackmail.
As a government that is seeking reelection, what we expect is for it to go to different LGAs of the State and commission projects that it has executed in the last four years. Why this promise of “I will”, when the chance for ” I have” was given to it.
We are very happy that the day of reckoning has come and the people are fully ready to take their destiny into their hands.
– Salihu Adam Jiddah is the Founder of Kogi Liberation Movement and a Lecturer at the Federal University of Kashere.
