APC chieftain identifies Kogi Deputy Governor, Onoja, as political cornerstone in Igalaland »

An elder statesman and Chairman of Elders Advisory Council for Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, Hon Akogu Onuche has identified Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja as the new political leader in Igalaland that everyone should rally round.

He made the comment in Afrugo community on Thursday when the area played host to the Deputy Governor who was there as part of his Thank You tour/ Christmas Celebration across Kogi East.

Hon Onuche said the Deputy Governor has been instrumental to many impacting projects for Igalaland, saying he has singlehandedly turned around the fortunes of the area and its people in all ramifications, adding that he is obviously the cornerstone of positive political fortune for Igala race.

He thanked the government of Governor Yahaya Bello for giving his Deputy the opportunity to turn around the fortunes of Igalaland for the better and expressed gratitude to Chief Onoja for grabbing the opportunity with both hands and impacting the lives of citizens positively.

The Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja had promised in his address to ensure improved infrastructure for the state in Governor Yahaya Bello’s second tenure including the community.

He particularly promised to table their requests for infrastructural upgrade including construction of road, provision of potable water, electricity, functional health facilities, improved farming tools, establishment of agricultural institutions as contained in an earlier address delivered by a member of the Afrugo community and former administrator of Igalamela/Odolu local government area, Hon Baron Okwoli to the Governor.

The Deputy Governor said he would not wait on government for all of the people’s expressed challenges, adding that they would leverage on their connects by mobilising friends and personal efforts to do what they could even as he promised to construct boreholes in the community within the next two months.

Chief Onoja expressed gratitude to the people of the Local Government especially Odolu Axis for their support for the APC which ensured comprehensive victory for Governor Yahaya Bello and himself.

Chief Onoja also thanked them for their quick realisation of the efforts of the current administration to improve security of lives and property for them, adding that they could now sleep with their eyes closed because of deliberate steps taken to address their security challenges.

The former administrator of Igalamela/Odolu Local Government, Hon Baron Okwoli had earlier applauded the Deputy Governor in his opening address, and paid a condolence on him over the demise of late sister to the Governor, Hajiya Rabiyat Bello.

He however formally congratulated the government on the victory of the APC in last governorship election and appealed for intervention in areas of infrastructure for Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area.

The APC chieftain particularly mentioned government interventions in the areas of education, construction of road, functional health facilities among others.

Elderstatesman, Prof Titus Umoru and other speakers also added their voices to the commendation of the administration’s strides in all around development of the state.