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As the 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election draws nearer, Kogi West Frontiers, a Non religious and Governmental Organization has demanded for the zoning of the Gubernatorial seat to the Senatorial District for the purpose of equity, fairness and justice which are the Hallmark of the New Direction Administration in the State.
Since the creation of Kogi State, the Eastern Senatorial District and Central have produced Governors of Kogi while the West is yet to occupy the Lugard House.
President of the Organization, Mr. Sunday Owoku while briefing Newsmen on Thursday in Lokoja, urged the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to support the West to justify his legacy of building the bridge of Love and a more united Kogi State.
“We also use this opportunity to plead with His Excellency Governor Yahaya Bello to rise and support our aspiration so that the bridge of the love and unity which he has built will not collapse but endure and survive the test of time. We do not pray that after his tenure Kogi state will be returned to the dark old days where the people were almost forced to ask “what portion do we have in Kogi State.”
He stated that “it is necessary at this juncture to remind his Excellency the promise made in your presence by our able Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Chief Edward Onoja on two important occasions as to which Senatorial District will be supported to produce the Governor that will take over from Governor Yahaya Bello. The first occasion was when Okun Development Association with traditional rulers visited the Governor in Government House Lokoja on the courtesy call to the Governor. The Deputy Governor who then was Chief of Staff and whose heart and voice of his boss while responding to the address of the President of Okun Development Association, assured Governor Yahaya Bello of the support of Okun people towards his re-election but pleaded for the Governor to ensure that he hands over to the West Senatorial District on the completion of his tenure. The Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja said that ‘the outcome of the result of the election shall decide which District shall be supported to succeed Governor Yahaya Bello.”
“The statement of Chief Edward Onoja was re-echoed in the presence of his Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello at Government House when party members and stakeholders were invited for pre-election briefing in Government House. We are proud that the people of Kogi West who were unrepentant supporters of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) made U-turn to fulfil their promise of returning Yahaya Bello and voted massively for him based on the confidence reposed in him as a promise keeper and a man of integrity.” he explained.
The Kogi West Frontiers President expressed appreciation to the Governor for his developmental strides in the Senatorial District.
“We as a Senatorial District wish to acknowledge with thanks the several ongoing projects in the district such as Ganaja Junction fly-over bridge in Lokoja under construction. On the whole, we noticed the giant strides of the Governor in other sectors such as agriculture with Omi Rice Mill Processing industry located in Kogi West senatorial district as example.”
” In the health sector several hospitals are under construction in some local government areas in the district, particularly Isanlu, Yagba East and Gegu in Kogi Local Government Areas. This shall go a long way to reduce the hardship of our people traveling long distance to access health facilities. We shall not fail to acknowledge and appreciate the Governor for the notable appointments for our people in his cabinet. As stated earlier some of these seats now occupied by our people were regarded as exclusive preserved for the other district in the past.”
On the Presidential Aspiration of Governor Bello, Mr. Owoku described the Governor as a patriotic and detribalized Nigerian who has the capacity to build a New Nigeria and fast track development of the country.
He added that the Group has thrown it’s weight behind the Presidential Ambition of the Governor and thanked him for answering to the call of well meaning Nigerians to contest the Presidential seat.
