Girinya Community excited as Kogi State Governor, Alh Yahaya Bello fulfills promise of gifting them machine boats »

The people of Girinya Community in Kogi Local Government Area are over the moon in what they described as “too good to be true” when they received gifts of machine boats from the Kogi State Govenror, Alhaji Yahaya Bello in fulfillment of the promise made to them in September this year.

Presenting the boats to the people on behalf of the Govenror, the state commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Engr Abubakar Bashir Gegu said the gifts demonstrated the love the Govenror has for the people of the area.

He said it also marked Govenror Bello as a man who does not just talks but fulfills his promises unlike other politicians that have become known for their inconsistencies and lack of fulfilment of promises.

The commissioner said the boats would go a long way in assisting to improve socioeconomic growth in the riverine community and its surrounding areas, stressing that fishermen and farmers in communities that border the the town would also benefit as transportation system would be tremendously easeed.

Engr Bashir Gegu had made it clear before the people that what was presented to them was in accordance with the demands of the people of the area, who demanded for the more traditional machine boats rather than the flying boats because of maintenance culture.

To them, the wooden and metal machine boats would be easier for them to maintain rather than the flying boats that would be difficult for them to take adequate care of.

He noted that the area was one of the villages that suffer from the menace of periodic flooding across the country, an occurrence that has led to loss of properties because of lack of timely intervention in the past, adding that the boats would go a long a way in helping the people with timely assistance in case of such occurrences again.

Engr Bashir Gegu, who expressed confidence in the ability of the people to take proper care of the donations said he had confidence in the ability of the youth and entire people of the community who were peace loving and patriotic and can take good care of the items donated.

He said they were exemplary and called on people across the state and the country to emulate Girinya people who protect public infrastructure and avoid anything that would cause social amenities from being destroyed whatever the provocation.

The commissioner then went on to praise the Govenror whom he described as pro – masses, saying he is a compassionate leader who has the love of rural dwellers at heart, hence the decision to provide them with means to make life better for the people.

Engr Bashir Gegu also applauded the people of Girinya for their self help initiative for community development in the form of building of a townhall which he said has gone a long way to prove they were people with thirst for efforts that would attract positive socioeconomic growth to their town.

He said such initiatives are what the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello encouraged, adding that with such projects, they should be assured that government would do more for them.

Receiving the boats, the traditional ruler in charge of the area, the Okoro of Girinya, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Ganaguda Momoh described the gesture as wonderful and a demonstration of the uniqueness of Govenror Yahaya Bello.

The Royal Father, who promised to mobilise his people, despite not being a politician, to support en masse the Govenror if he vies for Presidency in 2023, stressed that the country needed a leader like the Govenror.

He expressed the gratitude of the entire community and seventeen other benefitting towns and villages, saying the boats would go a long way in assisting them in their efforts to transport their goods even out of the state.

The Okoro then thanked the present administration for all it has continued to do for the people, and conferred, in absentia, a Chieftaincy title on the Govenror, which he said would be given to him when he comes to commission their self help townhall project.

Reacting, members of the community which includes the youths, women, and other community leaders all thanked the Govenror and prayed Almighty God to continue to give him good health and the zeal to lead the state to greatness.

Highlights of the occasion was a special prayer session held during the presentation by the Girinya Community Imam and then the test running of the boats by the Commissioner, the Okoro and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Rural Development, Hon Idris Aliyu.