The Uk’Omu Igala Organisation, the apex socio-cultural group in Kogi East Senatorial District, has set up a 13-man committee of eminent Igala and Bassa sons and daughters to interact with candidates from the zone in the forthcoming general elections.
This was contained in a statement signed by Elder David Abutu, the group National Leader and Dr Sabestine Abu, National Secretary, revealing that the committee is chaired by Architect Gabriel Aduku, a former Minister of State for Health, and its members include Ustaz Yunus,SAN, Professor Paul Omaji, Professor Jummai Ogbadu, Dr S.S. Ameh (SAN), and Dr Rekiya M Abaji. Retired Surgeon Commodore Abdullahi, Professor Danladi Amodu Ameh, Bishop Edmund Akanya, Elder David Abutu, and Mr Peter Dogwo are among the others.
Architect Aduku, the committee's chairman, told members at its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, that the committee's goal was to communicate the challenges facing Kogi East Senatorial District to all persons seeking election into various offices, to ensure they have a common focus on Kogi East, regardless of the offices they might be elected into.
“The legislative and executive arms of government are very important to the development and well-being of the people. Governors, Houses of Assembly members, Senators, House of Representatives members, and local council chairmen and councillors determine how resources are allocated, and even the fate of the people. As leaders of Kogi East Senatorial District, we need to court and cultivate a relationship with the potential political leaders to ensure they realise our challenges and work towards tackling them as soon as they assume office.”
Architect Aduku listed some of the challenges facing Kogi East, including the lack of social infrastructure, untapped human and natural resources, unsustainable peasant farming, lack of government presence, weak quality of education, lack of medical facilities at all levels, poverty, and general under-development.
He said, “As a committee, we do not lean towards any political party. All contestants belong to us, regardless of their party affiliations. We are a people. All we want to do is impress the candidates on the importance of unity of purpose in the development of any society. They must not work at cross-purposes; they must have a common agenda that will lead to the development of the Kogi East senatorial district.”
The committee is scheduled to meet with all candidates in this month’s election on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, in Abuja, in the first leg of the interaction.