As we yet again mark another year on the calendar for Kogi State, the entire members of Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) congratulate citizens of the State for her undying love for the state despite the daunting challenges of underdevelopment for three (3) decades. Kogi State was carved out of the old Kwara and Benue States, the birth of the new State was a reunion of a people who had shared a common history and had co-existed as one polity for a period of over seven decades before being severed by the 1976 States creation exercise.
The State has no doubt made gains in all sectors since creation till date. We have more tertiary education institutions, more health facilities; increased number of government houses built on owner-occupier basis, etc. More of Kogi children are in schools compared to 1991 statistics.
However, the expectations during the creation have not been met due mainly to poor governance by successive administrations. We have failed to get our politics right and this has translated in poor use of our common wealth. The state infrastructure development has been hampered at best, with no observable plan on ground. This implies that there has not been value for money for many of our State expenditures.
Kogi State with her abundant human and natural resources, have no doubt suffer developmentally from her state administrators and the government at the centre. We are aware that the grand norm of the nation is clear on items placed on exclusive list, however, the state has not been proactive for three (3) decades as finding ways to navigate the puzzle in regards to purchasing the necessary licenses to explore the abundant natural resources and engage development partners for the economic benefit of the state. Successive administration in the state has not done well in this direction. The Ajaokuta Steel company revival which forms the bedrock of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Kogi State is yet to get his attention after six (6) years.
The State is still without a Television Station, no constant water supply and no viable state owned manufacturing companies, all these has left the citizens dazed and exasperated with many feeling disillusioned with affairs of the government. The recent move by the current administration to place the state on the map of health tourism destination is a welcome development and we encourage this should be implemented efficiently, transparently and sustainably.
As citizens of the state continue to struggle for survival as a result of successive corporate mismanagement, we hereby call for people oriented governance laced with roadmap of development, we cannot afford to leave behind the current trend of poor governance and underdevelopment of the state to our children, the time to act is now!!!
We encourage Kogites to remain strong and resolute, after darkness comes light. We shall collectively push through this trying period of poor governance and underdevelopment through effective demand for accountability and inclusive governance.
God Bless Kogi State.
Signed:
Idris Ozovehe Muraina – Chairperson
Hellen Henry – Secretary General
Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is a coalition of Civil Society Networks Championing the promotion of participatory democracy, good governance and network coordination in Kogi State through advocacy and policy influencing for the well-being of Kogites.
