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By Labaran Tijani, Lokoja.
A sleepy town of Ogene Igah in Olamabaro Local government Areas of kogi state erupted in frenzy of celebration at the weekend when the revered Igah Traditional Council(ITC) and irresistible but respected Igah Progressive Association (IPA) paid a courtesy call on Hon. Blessing Aisha Ekele, the Vice chairman of the council, to solidarise with her over her new leadership role.
The Igah Traditional Council was at the weekend led by Ojibo Igah, chief Onuche Shaibu, and Igah Progressive Association filed behind the
vice President of the Association, Chief Godwin Yakubu who represented Comrade Godwin Ekele, the president of the group
that was absent, for tight schedules, at the occasion.
The occasion that sparked a mark of respect of the land on the Magajia1 of Uke kingdom in Nassarawa state was full of emotion as the monarch of the land led by Ojibo Igah and members of the IPA filled out with hundreds of their members to chief Ekele’s compound at Ogene Igah to celebrate Hon. Blessing Ekele over her emergence as the Vice chairman of Olamabaro local government.
The present custodian of Ojibo Igah Traditional stool that had been in existence since 1818 and the community Association holds that it cannot ward off with a wave of hands the fortune of Igah ward by producing the vice chairman out of the 10 wards that made up the local government, saying , her emergence as number two person in the council is worthy of celebration.
While the ITC and IPA gave it all to God and governor Yahaya Bello and his team for his steamy resolution that brought up their own daughter to such exalted position at the grass root administration, they prayed for divine help so that some knotty issues challenging the enclave will be resolved in their time, to their credit .
According to the Ojibo Igah, the monarch of the community has been giving tacit support to All Progressive Congress (APC) since it registered its presence in their communities, saying, that accounted for the fact the party has beating the rest parties to the rear in any election in the area.
He therefore appealed to governor Yahaya Bello via the vice chairman to as a matter of urgency grade the traditional stool of Igah to second class and move 6 of his cabinet chiefs to 3rd class to make them relevant and exercise authority to better the interest of the government, particularly as governor Bello is eyeing the plum job of number one in the country.
Besides clamouring for the grading of the traditional stool, both the ITC and IPA, among others demanded more employment for qualified Igah sons and daughters, promotion for those in the service of the government, construction of feeder roads, especially Agala, Ojuwo Igah ,etc to link up with major highways to steam up socio-economic activities and erection of more telecommunications marsk to boost communication signal , especially in Ugbamaka axis of the local government.
While the ITC and IPA commended governor Yahaya Bello, his deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, the lawmaker representing the constituency at the state House of Assembly, the council chairman ,Friday Nicodemus Adejo and others for the emergence of their daughter as vice chairman of the council, they appealed to the state government to assist the community to checkmate the menace of Fulani herdsmen whose behaviour is affecting farming activities in the flank of the state.
In her remarks, the vice chairman said she appreciated both the members of ITC and IPA for standing by her all this while in her political journey right from 2014/2015 when “we introduced the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the people of the community”.
“They stood by me since 2015 when we delivered the country and Kogi state to APC. They were with me during my bid to represent Ankpa/Olamabaro/Omalla federal constituency, including my 2019 jostling for governorship ticket of APC.
“Also, they never abandon me during my advocacy for Bello/CEDO ticket, as the members of IPA and ITC, particularly the Ojibo Igah himself appearing in our campaign at various times at Iga -ikeje”, she said .
Hon. Blessing Aisha Ekele who pledged to strive hard, inconjuction with her chairman , Hon. Friday N. Adejo to put in place some social amenities to raise standard of living of the people, assured that more boreholes are to be constructed in the Olamabaro communities for enough portable water; even as she enjoined Moslem,Christians and traditional worshippers to continue to pray for unity in the communities and among leaders for enduring progress.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has broken records in kogi, particularly among women folkes.The governor has been so fair to the people of Olamabaro since the dawn of his administration: Besides other appointments, he gave us position of chief of staff; and now, Deputy governor. And he will do more ,if we continue to encourage and support him, his policy and ambition”, she expressed.
While she thanked her kinsmen for the gifts, Hon.Ekele commended ,the first lady of the state, Mrs Rashida Bello, wife of the Deputy governor, Mrs Ejura Edwards Onoja, the Secretary to the state government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade and others for standing by womenfolks to take their position in the society of kogi.
