•Urges reconciliation after Apex Court judgment
By Grace Ben Kato
The General Overseer of Chapel of Freedom International Churches Lokoja, Bishop John Ibenu, has urged the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo, to as a matter of urgency, establish an Economic Team that would foster economic growth as well as translate it’s policies to improve lives and livelihood of its citizens.
Bishop Ibenu also highlighted the need to ensure the team comprises of some of the most brilliant and experienced minds that would guide the administration in developing a blue print tailored towards fast tracking economic development for the state.
While speaking with The Graphic on the 33rd anniversary of the creation of the state, Ibenu congratulated Gov. Ododo for his recent victory at the Supreme Court and called on him to set up a machinery for reconciliation.
“Congratulations to His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, for the victory at the Supreme Court. Now, it is time to settle down for governance. In governance, there is no discrimination. Bring every body together and leave Kogi at God’s own time better than he met it.”
The clergyman appealed to kogites to put aside their differences and give Gov. Ododo the support. “God does not make mistakes. He did not bring us together by mistake. I want to appeal to everyone to minimise our differences and amplify what unites us. What unites us is more that what divides us. Interests are normal, we can achieve more together.
“Let us partner with Government to succeed. Kogi has a lot of potentials, mineral resources, land for agriculture, tourism potentials, academic potentials. Kogi has all it takes to make it the best state in Nigeria.
“Let us drop our tribal and religious differences, sentiments and work in the fear of God for the betterment of humanity. The coming generation will blame us if we fail them. Let us lay down a legacy that they will thank us.
“Government alone cannot do it. Anybody who wants the government to solve all the problems is making a mistake. But we can all make a difference.
“Give government your best support. All of us cannot win at the same time. If you don’t win now, you can win another time. Let us join hands with the government and build Kogi state of our dream.”, he said.
While admonishing those in leadership positions in the state to give the governor the best advice that will move the state forward, the administration, he added, will be remembered for the problem it solved or unable to solve. He called on kogites to pray for the state and government for a better kogi state.
