_ Dr Sunday Bala Oma
The weekend was a behive of activities for a pressure Group, The Big Tent, KOGI state Coordinating Council. The Big Tent which house 5 critical stakeholders, amongst which are; The Labour Party, NLC political desk, TUC political desk, 80 Support Groups as well as the Obidient movement, at the weekend, inaugurated her 13-Man State Executive Council at the Labour party Secretariat in Lokoja.
Speaking to newsmen, shortly after the inauguration. The State Coordinator of the Big Tent, Comrade Sunday Bala Oma, expressed his deep appreciation to the leadership of the Big Tent, under the National supervision of Prof. Pat Utomi and his immediate Boss, the North central Coordinating Council, under the leadership of Dr Hadizer Miner. He thanked the leaders for finding him worthy to champion this course in KOGI state and promised not to let them down.
In similar vein, the Chairman of Labour party in the state, who spoke through the State Organizing Secretary, Comrade Abdulmalik appreciated the Big Tent for identifying with Labour party and its Candidate, Mr Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti. He express the optimism that with synergy with the Big Tent, we shall not only unseat the current leaders in power, but the incoming leadership of Mr Peter Obi shall provide Nigerians, a leadership with a sigh of relief.
Furthermore, the KOGI East Coordinator of the Big Tent, Ambassador Joseph Atodo spoke onbehalf of the inaugurated State Executives. While thanking the National body for finding them worthy to serve in this capacity, he admonished everyone to see this rare fit as an avenue to rescue Nigeria from several years of misrule and waste of our commonwealth. Those inaugurated are; The State Coordinator Dr Sunday Bala Oma, Spokesperson Engr. Johnson Adeyemi, State Secretary Mayam Yohanna, Labour Party Representative (Comr. Abdul), NLC/TUC representatives and 10 others.
To add color to the weekend, the State Executives, led millions of Labour Party faithfuls in a two million march advocacy rally at Anyigba on Saturday, 28 January 2023 tagged: KOGI EAST 2 MILLION MARCH FOR OBI-DATTI. The million march, had in attendance hundreds of Labour Party supporters, students, market women, members of the 80 support groups across the 9 local government councils, NLC/TUC members, farmers associations as well as the general public.
As an opening remark, the LOC Chairman (Mr Ajogwu Sani) appreciated all the 9 local government executives for mobilizing their members in large numbers. He prayed God to bless the sacrifice, everyone has made to ensure this first of its kind in KOGI state sees the light of day. The Kogi East Chairman Ambassador Joseph Atodo couldn’t hide his joy, but was elated at the massive turnout in his zone. He admonished all to take the message of Mr Peter Obi to the nooks and crannies of the state. The Labour party Chairman through the State Organizing Secretary thanked the Big Tent for leading the way. He assured of the parties commitment to mobilize her members until the ObiDatti Dream sees the light of day.
The State Coordinator, Dr Sunday Bala Oma, who participated in the million march, could not hide his joy, but thanked God for such a historic event. He also used the opportunity to thank the Force Headquarters, NSCDC and the local Vigilante Group for providing adequate security to forestall any break down of law and order that may arise, seeing that Anyigba is a flash point. In his words; “With this massive turnout today, the era of impunity and reckless administrative rascality that has improvised our people will become paleo (a thing of the past).
Other personalities that spoke are: The Student Union Government President of PAAU Comrade Alih, the market women leader Hajiya Aishetu, The Anyigba Ward youth leader Hon Philip Dansuma as well as the Secretary, Mayam Yohanna. MC Akpalla anchored the program, that saw the massive crowd marched from Diagnostic Hospital Gate, through to Igala Unity Square, the Univerty main gate, the market round about and finally had a stop at OLS, Anyigba, where the program was concluded.