By Mohammed Ahmed Yabagi.
The newly appointed administrator for Lokoja Local Government Area, Hon Muhammed Dan’asabe has formally assumed office at the secretariat in Lokoja today, Monday.
In his address, the new administrator promised to carry every stakeholder along in the discharge of his duties as his main objective was to bring about the overall development of the Local Government.
While further promising to operate an open door policy, Hon Dan’Asabe described his appointment as a call to duty and urged citizens of the area to join him in his crusade for a united Lokoja Local Government Area.
He said his administration would pay attention to staff welfare, security of life and property, health and water provision for the people in line with the determination of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The administrator said the task of returning the Governor, who is his direct benefactor to office, was one that must be done, and appealed for support from the people of the area to the Yahaya Bello Project.
He also expressed gratitude to the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Edward Onoja for his support to ensure the children of nobody became a force to reckon with in the society.
In a welcome address, the secretary of the Local Government council, Hon Jibrin Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to the Almighty God for bringing the new administrator into the saddle at this point in time.
He expressed the preparedness of other members of the administrative team to extend necessary support to Hon Dan’Asabe to succeed in the new task of building confidence among the political class and other stakeholders for the success of the Local Government and the party in particular.
On his part, the member representing Lokoja/Kogi Kotonkarfe Federal Constituency, Hon Haruna Isah urged the new administrator to carry everyone along as no one was indispensable especially at a time when gubernatorial election was around the corner.
He said God gave Hon Dan’Asabe the position, stressing the need for them to give him all the support he needed to succeed, saying that he may not meet everyone’s expectations out of the limited resources at his disposal.
The lawmaker then called on the people of the council to rally round the new man at the helm of affairs to succeed in his task of rebuilding the fortunes of the ruling APC and the Local Government in general.
Speaking, the Chairman of the Local Government’s chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Bala Ibrahim urged the new administrator to help in addressing the problem of salary, leave bonuses and training and retraining among others bedeviling the council.
Meanwhile, the new administrator has made his first key appointments as he approved the the appointment of his chief of staff, personal assistant and adviser on media and publicity.
To this end, he has approved the appointment of Hon Mohammed Danjuma as the Chief of Staff; Ajibade Abidemi as Personal Assistant and Abubakar Mohammed as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
