By Shatima Nasidi
kogi state Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Engineer Abubakar Bashir Gegu, has said it’s the turn of kogi/ Lokoja Federal Constituency to produce the next kogi west senator in 2023.
Gegu made the declaration in a interview with THEANALYSTNG in his office on Tuesday .
According to him,” Lokoja/ Kogi federal constituency
has paid their dues to the five local government areas, especially Ijumu/Kabba Bunu federal Constituency by rallying support for them to occupy the Senatorial position for 16years to date, hence it is their turn to reciprocate the gesture in the interest of justice and fair play” he said
Gegu,who debuked the insinuation that he’s fighting to occupy the seat in 2023, said that, the agitations is not for his personal ambition, adding that it consist of stakeholders and consultaive forum which has commenced consultations with other stakeholders and leaders of the APC in the two local governments areas so as to garner support for the move in order to move the Senatorial district forward.
He said that, “the aims and objectives of the agitations is to take the Senatorial position in the next general elections, is also based on the need for unity, equity and justice which remain a tool for sustainable growth and development policy of Governor Yahaya Bello”.
Gegu, who went down memory lane on the issues stated that, “the rotation of Senatorial slot among the seven local governments was based on creating opportunities for people to be involved in the process of governance and give hope to every component of the Senatorial district, but” to our dismayed,Lokoja and Koton-Karfe are politically marginalized. In 1999 Senator Tunde Ogbeha who served two term left office in 2007 honourable to give others opportunity to occupy the position, since then it’s Ijumu/ Kabba Bunu federal Constituency that is occupying Kogi west Senatorial position for 16 years.
They ( Okun speaking area) have the speaker of Kogi state House of Assembly, Secretary to the state Government, Senator and a joice Commissioner in-charge of Finance” he explained.
He said votes of kogi / Lokoja Federal Constituency always counted before any senator from the district could emerge,it was our votes that produced senators Ogbeha,Dino and the incumbent senator Smart Adeyemi.
“After our support for 16 solid years, by 2023, justice, equity and fair play demand that Lokoja / Kogi federal constituency should take the pilot seat” he noted.
On who would occupy the position,Gegu said the federal constituency have distinguished and men of repute that would take the position at the appropriate time.
The Commissioner therefore called on other sisters local governments in the senatorial districts to join hands with Lokoja and Kogi Koton-Karfe local Government areas, so as to ensure that the zone produces the next senator come 2023.
