- Promises Council Autonomy, Better Deal for Traditional Rulers
The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, Leke Abejide has reiterated his commitment to returning the “lost glory” of the traditional institution in the state.
He also promised to bridge infrastructure decay while also addressing the menace of floodings in the affected communities in Igalaland, Kogi East Senatorial District of the state, if elected governor.
The ADC campaign train which was in Idah, Ibaji, Ofu, Olamaboro and Ankpa councils, all in Kogi East Senatorial District, between Friday and Sunday, also promised autonomy for the third tier of government, if the party produced the next governor of the state.
Abejide, at a courtesy call on the Attah of Igala and Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty Matthew Opaluwa, at his Palace in Idah, Idah Local Council, promised singled out Olamaboro and Ankpa two council areas to receive special attention, in the tackling of issues of flooding and power failure, immediately he becomes governor.
Speaking against the background of recent grading and upgrading of 300 traditional stools across the state by Governor Yahaya Bello’s government, Abejide said the seeming rudderless gradings of traditional stools without the accompanying perks and incentives introduced into the traditional system by the outgoing government in the state has lowered the image of the royal institution in the eyes of the public. He noted that the anomalies can be partly addressed through granting autonomy to the local governments.
“Our administration would grant autonomy to the third tier of government, thus giving fresh breath of air to the people at the rural communities particularly at the grassroots, which would free the traditional institution from its present boundage”, he said.
Abejide further assured that his commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people of Kogi State has been rekindled by the endorsement of his aspiration from across all the sections in the state.
He added that “our people in the state deserve a better living standard, giving our status as an oil producing state in the country. We can not be counted as oil producing states, and our infrastructures are in terrible condition, just as our people are left in abject poverty.
My ambition to vie for the governorship in the state was predicated on meeting the needs of the people, especially the rural communities who have been subjected to all manners of challenges that are self-inflicted”.
Abejide stated further that his party ADC has social schemes that will break the jinx of poverty index in the state and turn around the misfortunes that has become the biggest challenge facing the people of the state.
At Ibaji Council, Abejide, alongside his running mate, Dr Idris Omede, campaign council chairman, chief shola Ojo, Director General, Adagu Suberu and other party’s stakeholders,
reassured the people of roads reconstruction and rehabilitation when the ADC takes over power in the state.
Noting that residents of Ibaji have continued to suffer undue hardship occasioned by annual floodings, among other challenges, the ADC Deputy Governorship candidate Dr Idris Omede reiterated the commitment of the administration to providing alternative succour to the suffering masses of the area, if elected.
While responding to the gloomy infrastructural decay in the entire Kogi East Senatorial District, Omede informed the people of the area that his party had already engaged the services of the consultant to evaluate the declined infrastructural decayed in the state with a view to addressing them.
Omede intoned: “We would strive to maintain high standards of quality services we provide for our people that would last longer even years after we left the office. The entire process of getting quality services delivered to the people of the state would be tackled because of the calibre of consultants we have already engaged in some key sectors of the economy”.
The deputy governorship candidate added that the main issue challenging the road infrastructure was poor physical studies of the environmental impact of the landscape before jobs are awarded for construction.
“However, going forward, all terrain that seems to have failed potion will go through procedures that all projects undertaken by our government must meet the required standards”.
