By joshua 
OKURA STATE DELEGATION MEETS DEPUTY LEADER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RT. HON. ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM ALI HALIMS
Proposal for the creation of Okura State out of the pryesent Kogi State has been described as the greatest thing that would happen to the people of Kogi East Senatorial District.
The statement was made by Rt. Hon, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims, Deputy Majority Leader, Federal House of Representatives and Member, representing Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala Federal Constituency.
He made the remark, when he received the delegation of Okura State Movement, comprising Chief Robert Usman Audu (Agenyi Ata Igala), Alhaji Alfa Ibn Mustapha and Dr. Yakubu Haruna Ugwolawo, in his residence, Abuja on Tuesday.
He expressed delight for the insistence of the Igala/Bassa people to have a state of their own out of the present Kogi State, which he said was long overdue. He further stated that, as a principal officer and member of the current 1999 Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives, he would do everything humanly possible to give his total support for the creation of Okura State, if any state is to be created in this dispensation. Adding, how can Idoma of Benue State or Nupe of Niger State would have Apa State and Edu State respectively; and Igala would be an appendage in Kogi?
He wondered why the 2014 National Conference did not recommend the creation of Okura, which should have been the third recommended state for the North Central Zone. However, he said, the non recommendation of Okura State would not affect its creation as its Memorandum has been presented to the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
He called on appropriate signatories from the local government Councils in the area, Members of Kogi State House of Assembly and his colleagues in the National Assembly to cooperate fully for the success of the exercise
On publicity and enlightenment, he called on the leadership of the Movement to rise to the demand of enhancing public knowledge about the proposed state, through publicity and enlightenment not only amongst the indigenes of the area but across the entire country, as the business of state creation cuts across the entire 36 Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chief Robert Usman Audu (Agenyi Ata Igala) and former Federal Permanent Secretary, expressed appreciation to the Hon. Member, for granting the request for the meeting. He went down the memory lane to give history of the demand for the creation of Okura State out of the then Benue State in 1980. He said that the Second Republic National Assembly granted the request and referred the proposal for referendum in 1983 but the military coup of General Muhammed Buhari scuttled the process. In addition, many other state proposals of that time have been created into states through military fiat.
He told Rt. Hon. Halims to use his position, being outspoken and influential member from Kogi East Senatorial District to bring his colleagues from the National Assembly, Members of the State House of Assembly and Local Government Councillors to work for the realization of Okura State.
Chief Robert Audu made reference to the Report of the 2014 National Political Conference, which excluded Okura State proposal and the subsequent protest by the members of the Conference from Kogi State.
In his own contribution, Dr. Yakubu Haruna Ugwolawo disclosed that Memoranda have been generated to the two Committees of the National Assembly and requested for the concerted efforts of members to work as a team for the realization of the proposed State.
The proposal, he said, contained the historical antecedents, economic viability, general agreement amongst the people of the area to work together for the development of the proposed state.
Dr. Ugwolawo catalogued the efforts of traditional rulers, led by His Royal Majesty Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Obaje CBE, CON, CFR, FIAMN and His Royal Majesty (Dr.) Idakwo Ameh Oboni 11 CFR, past Ata Igala and Presidents, Kogi State Council of Chiefs, as well the present Ata, His Royal Majesty (Dr.) Matthew Alaji Oguche Akpa, which has firmly put the demand for Okura State over and above others in the country.
Alhaji Ibn Mustapha dwelt on the need to see the multiplier effect on the creation of Okura State, which would bring more Wards, Local government Areas, State and Federal Constituencies, Senatorial Districts, etc.,rather than sentiments of where the headquarters of the proposed state will be. He asserted that if Igala/Bassa had toiled to go to Kaduna, Ilorin, Makurdi and now, Lokoja, distance from one part of the proposed state to the Capital should not be at a front burner of demand for the creation of the proposed state. He equally mentioned the need for sound funding to enable the attainment of the desired objectives.
The visit was sequel to the decision reached at the proposed Okura State Consultative meeting held on Sunday at the residence of Chief Robert Audu.
The meeting, which was called to brainstorm on the fundamental issues in the proposed state was attended by Chief Robert Usman Audu, Prof. Godwin Ogbadu, Prof. Jumai Ogbadu, Alhaji Alfa Ibn Mustapha, Dr. Jeremiah Ekele, Mr. Alphonsus Alhassan, Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo, Barr. Unubi Akoh, etc.
The meeting resolved to invigorate, revitalize and recondition the Movement for the creation of the proposed Okura State.
In order to ensure that the issue of the demand for the creation of Okura State sink into the minds of the stakeholders, there was the need for proper consultation on individual, community, professional, demographic, etc, for inclusiveness and effective participation. It was programmed that a larger meeting be held within the shortest possible time.