By Suleiman Abubakar.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu on Saturday, visited Omala, the Local Government in Kogi State, recently attacked by suspected bandits on April 4, 2024, where over 25 people were gruesomely killed, with several injured, displaced or still missing.
Prince Audu, who was received at the local government headquarters in Abejukolo by the Local Government Chairman, members of the Local Government council, traditional rulers, and members of the community, expressed his heartfelt sympathy for the unfortunate situation.
Prince Audu said that as the representative of the people of Kogi State at the Federal Executive Council, it was of great importance for him to personally visit the affected local government to see the level of destruction, understand the root cause of the crisis for the best interventions and solutions.
The Minister also made a personal donation of 3.5 million Naira and some relief items to the victims from Agojeju-Odo community currently living at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp and those in the hospital as part of efforts to ameliorate their plights, and one million naira to some people of the community.
“As a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a sense of duty and obligation to Kogi State, and by extension, Igala Land, and so, I have come to Omala today personally to show sympathy and commiserate with my people over the ill-fated incident that befell Agojeju-Odo community in Omala local government, which left many of our people dead, with a lot injured, missing and displaced from their homes.
“Coming here today, I have listened to all that the local government chairman has said, explaining the root cause of these lingering clashes. Be sure for me to take this to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for their prompt intervention.
“On personal grounds, I am donating the sum of 3.5 million naira and some relief items to the victims of the attack who are in the IDPs camps and in the hospital as my own support to ameliorate their pains.
“I have come to show my people that I love them sincerely. My father, Prince Abubakar Audu, was an individual who loved the Igala people. He fought and died for the liberation of the Igala people, and it is a struggle that continues. As the son of Prince Abubakar Audu, no one can love Igala Land more than me.
“I also learned from my father that it is difficult to run the state on the basis of one ethnicity, but a broad-base strategy will carry everyone along.
“There are lots of stories and blackmail that are being conducted and peddled around the social media space, which I urge you all to disregard. It is in our interest to put things in place that will move our Igala nation forward,” Prince Audu stated.
Visiting the IDPs Camp, the Minister empathised with the displaced persons, assuring them of his commitments to rally the federal and state governments to put an end to the terror in their communities and enable them to live their normal lives again.
Earlier, Chairman of Omala Local Government, Mark Edibo, thanked the Minister for his high-level visit, which he said shows how much the people mean to him, just like his late father, Prince Abubakar Audu.
Edibo said that upon assuming duty as Local Government Chairman in January, he took proactive steps to intervene in the crises in the affected community, which included invasions from the border communities of Benue and Nasarawa States.
The Local Government chairman called on the collaborative efforts of the federal and state governments to end the crisis, further calling for the establishment of a Naval Base and a Land Army Base in Bagana, the community at the centre of the dispute.
Edibo, however, disclosed that Governor Ododo has also taken steps to resolve the situation, assuring that the government will take full charge of the clashing communities.
In his remarks, His Royal Highness, Paul Achor, Acting Chairman, Omala Traditional Council, and Ogohi of Akpacha, also thanked the Honourable Minister for his visit, adding that he has proven himself as a true son of the land.
“Thank you for your journey to Omala; we do not know how to appreciate this. We have never seen this kind of high power visitation.
“You did not take time to come. You came here as soon as you returned from Umrah in Saudi Arabia, as the incident happened while you were away. You could have sent someone, but you came yourself. This means a lot to us, the people of Omala.
“We pray that God Almighty continue to bless and protect you and sustain you in your position as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to bring more development to Igala Land,” the Royal Father stated.
The Ogohi of Akpacha also bestowed upon the Honourable Minister the Chieftaincy Title: Olimene Onu-Ife of Omala.
Also present to receive the Honourable Minister were; Hon. Levi Atulukwu, Commissioner for Transportation, Kogi State, the Onu of Abejukolo, Onu of Agojeju-Odo amongst others.
