Chief Moses Ado Okino was a three time commissioner in Kogi State, erstwhile member of the House of Representatives (2003-2007) representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency and currently the Sole Administrator of the Kogi Investment and Properties. In this chat with AHURAKA ISAH in Abuja, he bares his mind on the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State.?
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What is your take on the administration of Governor Ibrahim Idris in Kogi State in which you are a part of?
In the governance of any society, the first thing you really require to move the place forward is peace. And this peace can only come about if there is equity and fairness in your dealings with the various communities or constituents of? society.? The way and manner you go about the affairs of the place will really make people unite and once they are united, there would be peace. So peace is paramount and Governor Idris has been able to ensure that there is peaceful co-existence in Kogi State. And with that platform, he has been able to do quite a few things that have attracted people like me and several others to his government.? We were all aware of the level of infrastructural decay before we came in and to God be the Glory, I think today nobody has constructed? as many roads as Governor Ibrahim,? either in the state capital or in the rural areas. You have a lot of roads that have been constructed on the nooks and crannies of the state to link up villages and urban centers.? And that has been able to impact on the economy of the people because they are able to move their produce from their various farm centers.? Again, one critical thing we also need is health services.? Apart from the specialist hospital, he personally constructed in Lokoja metropolis and major towns, so many hospitals and health centers.
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In the area of education, at the time he came in there were virtually no courses accredited in the Kogi State University. And because he was able to employ almost 120 professors, putting some new structure in place to meet the needs of the institution, and that has transformed the university to one of the best state universities in the country today.? For the primary school which is the foundation of education, he was given both national and international awards for been the best performing governor in terms of making infrastructure available to primary school. There are blocks of classrooms built across the state. The pupils who used to stay under the tree, uncompleted or dilapidated buildings in the name of learning now have good blocks of classrooms sheltering them.? In the area of water resources, you know almost all governments want to provide boreholes in the rural areas. But one great thing that Governor Idris has done is the construction of Greater Lokoja Water Work which is one of the best in the country.
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And that is going to give water to people in Lokoja.? You know, it has been unfortunate that Lokoja wh[ch is at the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue has?? no water to drink.?
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Yes, ex-governor Abubakar Audu started the stadiumin 1992/93 and left it? more or less at its foundation level. Even when he came back in 1999-2003, we still could not touch it. You know, I was Audu’s Commissioner for Sports, so I know what I am talking? about.? But today, that multibillion naira edifice of a stadium is ready for commissioning. Unlike some people who would say that it is not my project abandon it,? not even when Audu? who started the project came back and abandoned it,? but Governor Idris believe it is the property of government and government must not? abandon any project for any reason. And that is a very good spirit which I really cherish along with many people in Kogi State. When I was appointed the sole Administrator of the Kogi Investment and Properties for instance, I found out that the company was incorporated with equity share capital of N5million. But today, in order to make it a place that can really do business with private sector, the equity was increased to N500million that allowed us to take a loan of N1.5billion from the Federal Mortgage Bank with which we have started the construction of 350 units of houses for all contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme.? As I am talking to you, clearing is going on; plotting of land is going on in Mount Parte. Governor Idris is constructing a befitting road to the mountain in order to open up the place. We are calling it Lugard Height, because that was where Lord Lugard lived when he was governor general of Nigeria in 1914. So, it is like increasing the tourism awareness of the state. Industrial ventures are also going on. Every local government is going to have four small scale industries through joint partnership with state government and the Bank of Industry. I think in all sides of human endeavors as it relates to the management of the Kogi state affairs, Governor Idris has done his best.
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What are the chances of PDP in the Saturday election?
Base on what I have told you; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in control and definitely the party will win the December 3, 2011 governorship election. The personalities the PDP is also fielding are well groomed.? Captaim Idris Wada? and running mate, Arch Yomi Awoniyi are professionals who have made marks in their callings. They are people of high integrity with high educational background. They have a fall-back in terms of family background.? I can confidently say that they would ensure to answer their fathers name and they will win. Wada’s father was a successful judge.
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Wada’s running mate is a son to the former Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Chairman, late Chief Sunday Awoniyi who was also renowned for his courage and astute leadership quality. So they have very rich family background which they cannot afford to toy with.??
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As a politician from the host community to the comatose? Ajaokuta Iron and Steel company, what message do you have for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration??
One of the things that engendered the President to my mind was when he came on his campaign train to Lokoja stadium and pronounced that the issue of Ajaokuta steel company is a national one. And it should not be seen that it requires pressure from anybody because he knew that if Ajaokuta steel company was resuscitated, there would be greater job opportunity for Nigerians. That it would also be a catalyst for economic development and industrialization of the country. I took that statement really to my heart and during his election, I was in the forefront campaigning very seriously through ICT and all sorts of opportunities within my reach to ensure that people from Ajaokuta voted for him. And I thank God Ajaokuta LGA returned him resoundingly. And that is because as an economist myself, I know that Ajaokuta steel company if revamped would be a big plus, not just for the administration of the president but for the nation.? And so, I want to urge President Jonathan to please recall his promise to us. And that means to kick start the process of resuscitating Ajaokuta steel company as well as the National Iron-Ore mining company at Itakpe.? I am confident; the committee he has put in place shall give him a good blue print towards revamping the project. But I have this to say that as somebody who was the chairman (sub-committee) on Ajaokuta steel company when I was in the House of Reps (2003-2007), that everything revolves around fund which if made available could avail us the opportunity to? bring in people with technical know-how, who have the managerial skill to turn the steel project around. But such fund must not be put in the hands of people who are not committed, who would not share the spirit of the president on the need to resuscitate Ajaokuta steel company. And I pray that God will guide the president to identify? people of impeccable character to take the project up.? Secondly, there is no alternative to Russians if we truly mean to complete the project. They should be made to start from where they stopped, restore the cannibalized machines and equipment they installed initially. I have the? belief that the? so-called technical audit said to have been carried out was not done properly, except when it is carried out by the Russians, no other persons could do it right.? Thirdly, even if the steel project is turned around, it may still be meaningless if necessary infrastructures are not put in place. For instance, no road has been built to link the steel project to the marble site which is also a formidable raw material for steel production. The whole design is in place for any administration that is committed to turn the steel project around to fall upon. Let the federal government ensure that necessary infrastructure are? put in place to attract the would be investors in the steel project.?