When Gov Idris Celebrated Imane’s Torchbearers
CALL it a celebration of excellence. You are equally right to christen it a grand reception. Another person has the right to daub it a convergence of academic titans. Whatever definition trails the honour done recently to Imane Nine, who have excelled in their various fields of endeavour, is indicative of a people who are determined to live up to observers’ expectation by being dexterous and skillful in their profession. That might explain why notable Igalas attended the event.
The occasion, which was at the instance of Imane Development Union (IDU), was tagged: “A Grand Reception for Serving Public Officers of Imane Origin in the Government of Kogi State.”
Our Government House Correspondent, Nathaniel Drisu, pried into the breath-taking ceremony.
Kogi State Governor’s convoy arrived Imane in Olamaboro Local Government Area at about 4.00pm. It was ushered into the compound of the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Chief Sylvester Onoja. One spectacular feature about Imane community is, in spite of their cleavages to two dominant religions (Christianity and Islam), the people of the area interact mutually. That might also explain why all and sundry who had cause to enter Chief Onoja’s compound that day ate and drank gleely.
The main reception was at the Catholic Church, Holy Spirit Parish, Imane. Chairman of the occasion and first Northerner to bag the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim and Governor Idris were ushered in amidst cheers.
Before the event proper, the organizers of the programme, in an effort to demonstrate religious tolerance in the area, asked the heads of the two dominant religions to pray. The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. John Eze, prayed God to grant the governor wisdom to paddle the ship of democracy so that all elected members should be instruments of favour and progress for the electorate. The Chief Imam of the community appraised the governor’s exceptional legacy by giving sensitive positions to Imane indigenes.
The Master of Ceremony, Ibrahim Kindo of Aso Radio, Abuja, made a striking statement that “Imane is the Peoples Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is Imane.” To him, a leader’s ability to develop human capital, rather than outright concentration on infrastructure, would stand the test of time. Invariably, he opined that Imane people in both political and public services would be reckoned with positively globally.
In his nostalgia, Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, recalled how his uncle enlightened him on the tie between Imane, Ojoku and Ankpa people, a history he said he cannot jettison. That is why he had to leave Kaduna for Imane to attend the event because as he put it: “I owe it a duty to honour any invitation to Imane.”
Alhaji Ibrahim (SAN) divulged that there is a special bond between him and Chief Sylvester Onoja. Describing the latter as the first northerner to serve as Principal of King’s College, Lagos, Alhaji Ibrahim who appears to be Chief Onoja’s mentor, endorsed his call to service in Governor Idris’ administration. “If I had objected to his appointment as Commissioner, he would have rejected it. But I knew he was going to work with a performer (Governor Idris) like himself,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) gave a vivid reference to Chief Onoja’s enviable credentials, but added that “I am grateful that Chief Onoja gives me the honour to checkmate him.”
In his opening remarks, the National President of Imane Development Union, Alhaji Sani Adamu, expressed his joy at its zenith: “Today marks the peak of our goals and aspiration, a day we have earnestly waited for, a day we have a humane governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, as a leader who assumed the sonship of this historic town by virtue of his actions, policies and programmes.”
Alhaji Adamu “openly confessed” that Imane people have never had it blissful with any administration as he said, “it is on record that under Governor Idris, this area has for the first time produced a member of the State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, High Court Judge and General Manager.” He commended the governor’s efforts at making sure an indigene of the area was elected twice into the State House of Assembly, despite the “heterogeneous traits” of Olamaboro Local Government Area.
He cherished his own people as he sounded an instructive note: “All these people we are celebrating are men of great honour with great impeccable character.”
The President lauded the governor for boosting electricity supply in the town, on-going construction of Imane-Ibana Road, establishment of a model Science Secondary School, grant-aiding of Agaliga Etikwo Community Secondary School and a host of other indices of development.
But he gave a catalogue of problems and challenges. One of them is the need for the state government to complement the financial assistance of N1 million from the Chairman of the local government, Hon. Gabriel Olofu, to procure high pressure generator, pipes and reticulation equipment to make their water project functional.
On Imane-Ibana Road, the President lamented that “although the governor has good intentions for our community, we doubt the sincerity of the contractor as the slow pace of work and shoddy execution is a source of concern to the entire community.”
He also appealed to the governor to fulfill his approval for the extension of electricity to Agaliga Community, just as he urged the state government to intervene on the lingering boundary dispute between Amoke Enumona in Imane District and Ohimini in Benue State in which “our people have been unjustly harassed, intimidated and often times arrested and dumped in police cells by Benue State Police Command.”
One of the problem areas is also the need to upgrade the Cottage Hospital in the area to a full-fledge General Hospital as the president noted that “the population of this community is beyond the service of a primary health care centre.”
Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon. Gabriel Yunusa Olofu, said he had cause to identify with Imane people and Governor Idris because the latter appointed him as Director-General, Protocol, Government House; the first of such offer for an indigene of the local government. He affirmed that although the appointment generated some ripples, the governor, in his usual magnanimity, made him Director-General, Protocol, Lagos Liaison Office; the position he held until he was appointed the Caretaker Chairman of his local government and now a substantive (elected) Chairman. Hon. Olofu summed up that “although we can argue in this local government, this third tier of government was exceptional in the choice of candidature for the last election.”
He, however, bemoaned the spirit of disloyalty in some quarters as he said: “in spite of disloyalty in some areas, the governor had appointed two commissioners from this local government area two consecutive times.”
In his response, Governor Idris promised to look into Imane Community’s demands, because “they are important and reasonable.” He assured the people that drastic measures would be taken to curb the menace of soil erosion between Imane and Abo-Ojoche.
Governor Idris who described Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN) as “the great son of Igalaland,” said he was happy and proud to be associated with great men. He maintained that it is a rare opportunity to be celebrated. “It is a thing of pride that we are here today to celebrate worthy sons of Imane.” He also attached much importance to Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim’s trip from Kaduna to Imane which he described as a show of outright solidarity and statesmanship.
Governor Idris does not regret the appointments of some Imane indigenes into sensitive positions as he remarked: “I am happy that they are all doing very well.” He identified with “the town I love so much” and hoped to oblige to any subsequent invitation to the community.
He had not exhausted his love for Imane: “I will treat Imane like other communities in the state. I will not deprive it of its dividends of democracy. I will be fair to it in terms of justice, equity and projects,” he rolled out his action plans for the community that is widely acknowledged to be relatively elitist.
Governor Idris used the occasion to formally express his gratitude to the people of the area for their unflinching support during the last March 29, 2008 re-run governorship election.
The men that were honoured are: Chief Sylvester Onoja, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology; Hon. Zakari Ohiemi, Member representing Olamaboro Constituency at the State House of Assembly; Chief Christopher Eneche, Permanent Member, Civil Service Commission; Dr. Elias Akuh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Gabriel Amobeda, General Manager, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation; Mr. Donatus Ojochenemi Okpe, Editor of The Graphic Newspaper; Hon. Mike Okoliko, Leader, Olamaboro Legislative Council; Hon. Saddiq Ahmed, Councillor representing Imane Ward II; and Mr. Simon Kadili, Education Secretary, Olamaboro Local Government Education Authority.
They all had ceremonious handshakes with the governor as a mark to further consolidate their acceptability by the state government.