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Kogi State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, was on Saturday conferred with a traditional chieftaincy title, “Gbobaniyi of Ejuku Land”, by HRH Oba Alhaji Abdulkareem Araba Ibrahim, the Elejuku of Ejuku, Yagba East Local Government Area, Kogi State.
The conferment of the chieftaincy title by the royal father and his Council of Chiefs, was part of the activities to mark the annual celebration of “Ejuku New Yam Festival”.
The monarch thanked all the dignitaries at the event particularly the political appointees of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who came out en mass to honour the day, promising that his people would reciprocate the gesture in due time.
He eulogised the commissioner for his kind-hearted and good representation that has had positive impacts on his constituents, which has attracted the attention of the council of chiefs of Ejuku land to honour him with the chieftaincy title.
He commended the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for given several appointments to some of their illustrious sons and daughters, and for his commitment and determination to bringing sanctity and development to the state despite some notable resistances.
He, however, appealed to the appointees to contribute meaningfully to enable the council have a befitting palace that the people of Yagba east would be proud of.
In his remarks, the finance Commissioner, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, thanked the royal father and the council of chiefs for counting him worthy of the traditional title, saying it would spur him to be more committed to selfless service to his people.
Asiwaju commended Gov. Bello, for his developmental projects in Okunland, urging the people for their continuous support and believe in the new direction government of the present administration.
He noted that the people of Yagba east had never had it so good for the past 25 years of creation of the state, unlike what they were having and enjoying at the moment under the new direction government led by Gov. Bello.
The commissioner pointed out that the governor in his magnanimity had given many political appointments to the illustrious sons and daughters of Yagba east, which included the SSG, himself as the commissioner for finance, Chief Security Officer, Special Adviser on Science and Technology, among others.
He added that the governor had also gave employment to some of the jobless youths in their communities under the ministry of Environment (forest guards); Justice, Board of Internal Revenue and many more to be employed in the ongoing recruitment in ministry of Health.
Asiwaju further assured the people that the ongoing road rehabilitation project along Ijowa-Ejuku-Ife Olukotun-Iyamoye road, would soon be completed and commissioned by His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
He, therefore, urged the royal father and his people to support programs and policies of the state government in order to keep attracting dividends of democracy to their community.
The commissioner on behalf of the state government, distributed 100 bags of rice (5kg) and a cash donation to the women and the less privileged people in the community.
Chief Oloye Baba, the Secretary of the Council of Chiefs of Ejuku land, on behalf of the council and the people of the community, made a passionate appeal to the governor to upgrade the stool of Elejuku of Ejuku to a First-Class Oba.
According to him, the traditional ruler is well overdue for a first-class status; calling on the commissioner for finance, the SSG and other appointees present at the occasion to relate their passionate appeal directly to the governor for quick consideration.
Baba expressed optimism that the listening ‘talk and do’ governor would graciously grant their request. He also reaffirmed their unalloyed support for the new direction government of Gov. Bello.
On her part, the Secretary to Kogi State Government (SSG), Mrs Ayoade Folashade Arike (Phd), called on the people of Okunland to remain united and work together in order to bring out the best out of them, saying, “in unity lies our strength”.
She promised the people that the new direction government with the new direction blueprint, led by Gov. Yahaya Bello, would not disappoint them, stressing the need for their total support and cooperation.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion were the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Commissioners for Agriculture and Education, State Security Adviser to the Governor, Kogi House of Assembly members from Yagba East, Idah, Ijumu, Bassa, Ankpa I and II, Kotonkarfe, among many others.
At the end of the event, all the State political appointees converged at Ejuku Town Hall for a brief meeting, chaired by Hon Taofik Isa, the leader of Okun people under the present administration.
Isa, who is the the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government Area, admonished the appointees to be good ambassadors of Gov. Yahaya Bello led government, and work for the unity and development of Okun land, the state and the country at large.
In his vote of thanks, the Administrator of Yagba East local government area, Hon Ijagbemi Abdulrasaq, thanked everybody for their presence at the meeting.
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