Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Prince Matthew Kolawole has been bestowed with an award of honour as the ‘Okun Youth Politician’ of year 2019.
Kolawole was conferred with the award at the Okun Youth Summit on Saturday held at Lisa Palm Hotel, Kabba.
Speaking at the occasion, the President of Okun Youth for Change and Convener of Okun Youth Submit, Comrade Kunle Ola said the award of honour to the Speaker is in appreciation of his monumental contributions to the overall development of the youths of Okun land.
According to him, Rt Hon Prince Matthew Kolawole remains one of the best politicians Okunland has ever produced being a youth friendly individual.
He described him as the most accessible politician that listens, wines and dines with the youths.
He said a lot of youths have good testimonies about the deeds of the Speaker, stressing that right from the day he met him at Local Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Kabba where the Speaker promised to give him a job; a promise he has fulfilled for more than two years.
He said the Speaker has been instrumental to many youths getting admissions into high institutions in Nigeria.
Kunle Ola commended the Speaker for the love he has for the youth in paying school fee for students, urging him to continue with his good deeds.
He appealed to him to help pay the school fees of an outstanding Okun youth final year Economics student of Kogi State University, Anyigba, Adeola Michael.
He said since it is not always good to change the winning horse at the middle of the game, the Okun Youth for Change have decided to endorse Rt Hon Prince Matthew Kolawole for Speakership of the 7th Assembly that will be inaugurated this week.
He said the unity, peace and development of Okun land is much more important to the youths hence they want it sustained.
The youths called on the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Governor Yahaya Bello not to listen to those agitating for the Speaker’s post, rather, they are comfortable with Prince Matthew Kolawole to continue the Speakership.
Another youth, Livingproof Ojo gave account of his wonderful experience the first time he met the speaker. He described the award bestowed on Kolawole as merited and appealed to him to continue in the same light.
Responding, Prince Matthew Kolawole appreciated the group for the honor done him, noting that it is his joy to always share and reach out to people from the little resources God blessed him with.
He said those who complained of him not be accessible are only playing politics for their self-centered agenda, stressing that he remained the most accessible politician around the area.
He said in all his empowerment programs, he has been careful to carry along all communities in the area as he engage aides from the 7 local government areas that made up of Kogi West Senatorial District where he represent at the state.
He said the time Okun people need to work in unity is now, noting that Governor Yahaya Bello remain the first Governor of the State to recognize the 9 federal constituencies in the state.
According to him, many people only see Okun land as one constituency whereas it has two federal constituencies, Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu and Yagba Federal constituencies.
He appealed to the youths to cooperate and support the second term bid of Governor Yahaya Bello as it is the surest way for Okunland considering the key positions many of their people are enjoying currently.
He said Governor Yahaya Bello is a youth friendly Governor that believes in the youths being a youth himself. He urged the youth to go back home and educate the people to correct the bad insinuations created by the opposition.
He said the main challenges of the administration is salary which according to him will soon be a thing of the past, noting that two months salaries were paid during the week.
He said as the economy status of the state improve, salaries will continue to be regular, pointing out that the return of Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a battle of no retreat no surrender.
He promised to continue to operate an open door policy that will accommodate all irrespective of their tribe and religion.
The Speaker responded to the request of the youth leaders with the payment of forty six thousand naira school fees of a final year Economics student of Kogi State University, Anyigba, Adeola Michael from Mopamuro Local Government.
