Dear Compatriots,
I extend warm greetings and felicitations to all Kogites as we celebrate our state’s silver-jubilee; a significant milestone in our journey as a state.
Twenty five years ago, on the 27th of August 1991, Kogi State was giving birth to which has become our home, our hope, and our heritage.
I have often expressed the conviction that our Birth was not a mistake. While our union may have been inspired by considerations external to our people; I have no doubt that we are destined by God Almighty to live together as one big state, united in diversity.
I congratulate Gov. Yahaya Bello who God has specially privileged to lead our dear State into its silver jubilee of existence. And I feel the full weight of our Twenty five-year history. But what I feel most is not frustration, it is not disillusionment. What I feel is great pride and great hope for a state that is bound to overcome the transient pains of the moment and eventually take its rightful place among the greatest States on earth.
Like every state of the world, we have had our troubles. And we still do. We have suffered sectarian violence. And as I speak, a part of our state is still suffering from the brutal assault of terrorists and insurgents.
While the occasion of our silver jubilee undoubtedly calls for celebration, it is also a moment to pause and reflect on our journey of the past twenty five years, to take stock of our past and consider the best way forward for our state.
Even as we celebrate our silver-jubilee, we must realise that in the context of history, our state is still in its infancy.
We are a state of the future, not of the past and while we may have travelled for decades, we are not yet at our destination of greatness.
The birth of Kogi State in 1991 was only the first step in our national journey. Unification was followed by independence and democracy which have unleashed the enormous potentials of our people and laid the foundation
for our state’s greatness.
In challenging times, it is easy to become pessimistic and cynical. But hope, when grounded in realism, enables and inspires progress. Therefore, as we celebrate our first silver-jubilee of statehood, we must not lose sight of all that we have achieved since 1991 in terms of state-building, development and progress.
Today, we salute once again the great heroes of our State – Late Sen. AT Ahmed, Alh. Adamu Attah, Late Prince Abubakar Audu, Prince Olusola Akanmode, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, late Arc. Stephen Olorunfemi, Late James Ocholi among others.
We must be inspired by our past to overcome the obstacles we face in the present and honour our forebears by realising the promise of a Kogi that is not only born but also truly unified, prosperous and admired the world over.
The history of Kogi since it was created is the story of a struggle to fulfill our great promise. The discovery of steel in our state offered new hope of prosperity but we have not always been able to reap the benefits in a fair and equitable way.
The situation was not helped by political instability.
Thanks to the efforts of our statesmen and women, and millions of ordinary Kogites, the union endured and
flourished. I would like to specifically commend The security of the state for their contributions and sacrifices to always try to make kogi state save.
As we celebrate our silver-jubilee, I believe that it is vital that we focus our thoughts on the vast potentials of a unified and progressive Kogi State; and build on the relative stability of the state to achieve accelerated national socio-economic development.
I also believe that the future greatness of our State is assured by the favourable tail winds of a resilient population, rich natural resources and a national consciousness that rises above our differences.
We are a unique state. We have been brought together in a union like no other by providence.
I hope and pray that twenty five years from now, Kogi will look back on golden jubilee of achievements during which our union was strengthened, our unity was enhanced, our democracy was entrenched and our example was followed by leaders of other states whose ambition is to emulate the success of Kogi State; a state that met its difficulties head-on and fulfilled its promise.
Finally, Dear Compatriots, as we enter the silver-jubilee in the life of our state, let us rededicate ourselves to doing more to empower the youth of our state. Our common heritage and future prosperity are best protected and guaranteed by the youth. We must commit our full energies and resources to empowering our youths to achieve our collective vision of greatness in this silver-jubilee of our statehood.
That is the task before our state; that is the cause we should all chose to champion and believe in triumph.
I wish all kogites happy silver-jubilee celebrations.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live Kogi State
Signed by: Danfulani Lukman media aide to Hon. Lawi AT Ahmed
