Kogi votes N642m for Ankpa township roads

Youths protest cancellation of ward congress result 

Kogi State Governor Idris Wada has flagged-off the construction and rehabilitation of 6.5 kilometres of Ankpa township roads, expected to gulp N642 million.

Flagging-off the project at Ankpa, the governor said that it was in fulfilment of his electoral promises to the people of the area. Wada said that the project was a demonstration of his commitment to better the lots of the people, irrespective of where they live. According to him, the government is committed to the provision of good road network across the state.

The governor said that the project, when completed would boost the socio-economic activities of the people. He urged residents of Ankpa to protect the equipment of the contractor and the workers that would be working on the project to ensure its early completion.

Wada said that engineers in the Ministry of Works must ensure effective supervision of the roads as government would not accept a shoddy job. The governor, who said that there was an attempt to assassinate the acting Chairman of Ankpa Local Government Mr. Ibrahim Abagu, earlier in the day, sympathised with him on his ordeal.

He directed the state Commissioner of police, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi to fish out the culprits. Commissioner for Works, Mr. Godwin Onamah, in his welcome address, said that the road project awarded to TEC Engineering Services had a completion period of 12 months.

He charged the contractors to work diligently and deliver the project according to specifications within the stipulated time frame. Onamah promised that his ministry would not be slack in its responsibility to ensure that quality road projects are delivered across the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Wada prevented what would have otherwise resulted in a chaotic situation at the PDP Headquarters in Abuja yesterday as he directed youths from the 21 Local Government councils fully mobilised to protest the cancelled ward congress in Abuja to return to the state.‎ ‎ Following the cancellation of the June 27 Ward Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, the youths decided to take their protest to the national headquarters in Abuja.

However, the Governor said protest was not the best option as due process was being followed to ensure what was peaceful and fairest congress is allowed.‎ The party, it was alleged, nullified the Ward Congress poll because of alleged irregularities. It fixed July 14 for a fresh Ward Congress across the state ahead of the governorship poll in November this year.

But the party in the state felt there must be a sinister agenda because the election was adjudged the free and fair.‎ Speaking at an emergency gathering after the youths were made to detour half way to Abuja in obedience to the Governor’s directives, the youth leaders said they were ready to occupy the Wadata house until the decision was reversed.

The senior special Assistants to the Governor for Okene Local Government Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya Karaku‎ asked the Governor to bare some of his fangs because his pacifist attitude was not helping the situation. He warned that unless the PDP at the National levels want to lose Kogi State then they should continue with their antics. ‎

He said the Governor came in with numerous cases dragging him from the lower court to the Supreme Court yet he has many achievements to his credit.

Another youth leader, Maximilian Tashilani, who spoke for Kogi East said they have been observing the biblical injunction of turning the second cheek when one is slapped. He said both cheeks have been slapped: “We have taken our destiny in our hands. We were docile, but now whether with your approval or not we were going to Abuja.