The Atta Igala, His Royal Majesty Dr Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, has expressed optimism that Kogi would attain it’s pride of place as center of Commerce, education, tourism when it start getting its 13% revenue derivation as an oil producing State.
The royal father who spoke yesterday at the ministry of Local Government and chieftaincy affairs in Lokoja against the backdrop of oil wells found in Odeke in Ibaji local Government area of the State predicted that the State will overtake it’s contemporaries when that Status is confirmed.
“Kogi State is among the oil producing States in Nigeria, Kogi and Kwara are in the league with the rest of Niger Delta on the Map of oil producing States.
“We are happy with that, let the 13% derivation come to our State within one year the State would be transformed to an Eldorado for all Nigerians to come.”
He charged Kogi indigenes both at home and in diaspora to support Governor Yahaya Bello’s initiatives to bring about Kogi that will be beneficial to all.
He said the governor in all his actions is determined to build a Kogi state where every one will be equal irrespective of tribe and religion.
The monarch noted that the state is presently under going surgical operation due to maladministration of the past leaders, indicated that every one will have cause to smile at the end when the wounds are healed.
According to him “We have passed through series of maladministration, but this is the first time we are getting the dividend of democracy especially the traditional rulers, if the governor can maintained this pace, in few years from now we will occupy a better position in the committee of States in Nigeria .
“Kogi state had all it takes to develop, but to harness this God given potentials the state has to pass through surgical operations which of course required patience, perseverance and total support from the people of the state to enable the government actualise its dreams”
While commending the governor and his team for flagging off road rehabilitation in the three senatorial districts of the state and opening of feeder roads in all the 21 local government areas, the Royal Father noted that the roads will assist the farmers to move their produce to the marker, which he added will improved the economy of the people at the hinter land.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on local government and chieftaincy affairs, Engr. Abubakar Ohere noted that the government has taken practical steps to reposition the state against all odds.
Ohere further noted that the governor after overcoming all the litigations had embarked on critical infrastructural development that will bring comfort to the people of the state.
He listed the infrastructures to include the recent flag off of road rehabilitation across the three districts as well as feeder roads in all the council areas.
Credits: John Akubo | Guardian
