Kogi State @ 30: We have come a long way – KONGONET

Story from Rabi’atu, Lokoja

As we mark another year on the calendar for Kogi State, the entire members of Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET), congratulate citizens of the state for her undying love for the state despite the daunting challenges of underdevelopment for three decades.

The state chairperson of KONGONET, Mr Idris Ozovehe Muraina said Kogi was carved out of the old Kwara and Benue states. The birth of the new state was a reunion for the people who shared a common history and had co-existed as one polity for a period of over seven decades before being severed by the 1976 states’ creation exercise.

The state has no doubt made gains in all sectors since its creation to date.

“We have more tertiary education institutions, more health facilities; an increased number of government houses built on an owner-occupier basis, more Kogi children are in schools compared to 1991 statistics.”

However, he noted that the expectations during the creation have not been met due to poor governance by successive administrations. “We have failed to get our politics right and this has translated into poor use of our commonwealth.

The state infrastructure development has been hampered at best, with no observable plan on the ground, this implies that there have not been value for money for many of Kogi expenditures.

Kogi State, with her abundant human and natural resources, has no doubt sufferered developmentally from her state administrators and the government at the centre.

“KONGONET is aware that the grand norm of the nation is clear on items placed on the exclusive list, however, the state has not been proactive for three decades as finding ways to navigate the puzzle in regards to purchasing the necessary licenses to explore the abundant natural resources and engage development partners for the economic benefit of the state,” he pointed out.

Successive administrations in the state have not done well in this direction.

The Ajaokuta Steel company revival which forms the bedrock of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Kogi State is yet to get his attention after six years.

The State is still without a Television Station, no constant water supply and no viable state-owned manufacturing companies, all these have left the citizens dazed and exasperated with many feeling disillusioned with the affairs of the government.

The recent move by the current administration to place the state on the map of health tourism destinations is a welcome development and we encourage this should be implemented efficiently, transparently and sustainably.

As citizens of the state continue to struggle for survival as a result of successive corporate mismanagement, KONGONET hereby calls for people-oriented governance laced with a roadmap of development. We cannot afford to leave behind the current trend of poor governance and underdevelopment of the state to our children; the time to act is now!!!

KONGONET encourages Kogites to remain strong and resolute because after darkness comes light.

“We shall collectively push through this trying period of poor governance and underdevelopment through effective demands for accountability and inclusive governance.”