By Victoria Nnakaike, Lokoja
Kogi state is a state all Nigerians should make conscious and deliberate effort to protect in the collective present interest and the future interest.
This submission is premised on eight (8) major reasons that is historical, unity, economy, agriculture, solid mineral, tourism, power and security.
History: One of the major reason why the forthcoming guber election matters to Nigeria is the historical importance to the state , especially the state capital Lokoja to the emergence of the country called Nigeria. Nigeria derived it’s name from the confluence of river Niger and river Benenden in lokoja.
Floral Shaw, wife of Lord Fredrick Lugard, Nigeria’s first colonial Governor General was the one one that named this country Niger Area which was later modified to become Nigeria.
She was said to have peeped out of the windows of the Lugard’s apartment on Mount Patti, saw the beauty of the meandering river Niger and said “This Niger Area”.
It was from her statement “This Niger Area that the name Nigeria was adopted as the official name of Nigeria.
Aside this, Lokoja the capital of Kogi state was the capital of Northern Protectorate for so many years.
In fact when the Northern and Southern Protectorate were merged in 1914 to form the present entity called Nigeria, Lord Lugard was resident in lokoja, and later left lokoja to resume in Lagos the capital of the newly formed Nigeria to preside over its affairs.
Also with this status, the first primary school, , the first hospital, the first post office, first bank, first church in Northern Nigeria are all located in lokoja, Kogi state.
Another major reason why November 11, guber election matters a lot to Nigeria is security. Kogi state is right at the centre of Nigeria. It is the main bridge and link between Northern, the South-South, the South East and South west connect to the North through Kogi and the North.
Kogi shares boundaries with nine (9) states, Edo, Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa, Anambra, Enugu, Ondo, Niger Ekiti and the federal territory capital Abuja, and it’s being occupied by no fewer than fourteen (14) distinct tribes.
Any security concern in Kogi will most likely affect the nation’s federal capital territory of Abuja and nine other states
The security implication of of this for the country is that four out of six geographical zones in Nigeria will be affected.
Again any security breach in Kogi will also negatively I act on the movement of goods and services between the North and South, in fact any natural disaster like the flood that happens in Kogi always impact natively on the nation’s economy and security.
It always become a global issue, the 2012 and 2022 flood disaster in Kogi are clear examples.
Agriculture is equally another major reason why the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi should a matter of of concerns to Nigerians as it’s agricultural resources is equal to none.
As at today Kogi is the leading producer of cashew and cassava, two major cash rope attracting forex to Nigeria through exportation to other countries.
Other food crops like rice, yam, groundnuts, beans sesame seeds, water melon are equally being produced in large quantities in Kogi state.
Any security breach before, during and after election, will affect food production, food supply food shortage which will add to the problems already created by subsidy removal in the country.
Unity can’t be swept away from the forthcoming election, in that with more than 14 dialect that make up the state if they do not unite come out en-mass, vote for the person of their choice without rancour, it might equally breach the existing peace and tranquility being experienced before the governorship election sets in.
Economy is a lot another major reason why the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi state should be a matter of concern to Nigeria , as the economic prosperity of Nigeria can’t do without its connection with Kogi state.
Recalled that Nigeria is trying to fix another alternative for oil and gas revenue derivation. Whatever the federal government needs is naturally stocked in Kogi.
The state is the home of 28 out of 32 solid minerals found to be in large commercial deposit in Nigeria. Limestone, gold precious stones, tin, marble among other are all available in commercial deposit in Kogi state.
Another critical reason why Kogi state governorship election is of important to Nigeria is power. Kogi is home to Geregu Power Generating plant that supplies about 300 Megawatts of electricity to the national grid. The thermal station is the power supply to Abuja and five other Northern states, its equally hosting one of the three biggest power injection in sub-station in the country.
The injection sub-station located in Zango Daji area of Lokoja is a critical electricity infrastructural supply in Nigeria. Aside this is the availability of largest coal deposit in the eastern part of Kong state. In fact Kong has the largest coal mines in Nigeria. Apart from coal to power, coal also a major forex earner in Nigeria.
The state is also blessed with availability of the largest crude oil deposits. This has made the state to be one of oil producing states enjoying 13 percent derivation since November 2022.
The state is also the host of the billion of dollars worth Ajaokuta Steel Complex. The state is abundantly blessed with Iron Ore do sits which serves as major raw materials to the Steel Complex.
The company is currently out of production but efforts are ongoing for production to resume. It is in the best interest of Nigeria to make Ajaokuta Steel Complex work to conserve forex being spent on importation of steel products, are parts and boost manufacturing.
Again, the critical role of the state to the country build Sector cannot be over emphasised because the state is home to the biggest cement plant in Africa, Obajana Cement Plc.
The cement produces and supply a greater percent of the cement need of the country’s Build Sector. It was the cement company that was used to implement the backward integration policy of the federal government which eventually made Nigeria to stop importation of cement cement into the country and make Nigeria to become a net exporter of cement in the world.
The yearning of Nigerians to own houses and government desire to bridge the housing deficit through provision of mass housing scheme also substantially depends on Obajana Cement Plc.
The Obajana Cement Plc is also critical to the job creation efforts of Nigeria as it provides direct and indirect jobs to thousands of Nigerians. Therefore, any attempt to disrupt the operation of the company will lead to socio-economic crises for the country.
Apart from being the largest producer in Africa, Kogi state is also home to the largest ceramic and marble production companies in Nigeria. Ceramic tiles and marble tiles are also major products critical Nigeria’s build industry.
Tourist which was said to be the fastest growing sector in the world is another major reason why the forthcoming guber election in Kogi should be a matter of concern to Nigerians.
The state is endowed with a lo of tourist sites that have been recognised by UNESCO. The tourism site which are scattered all over the state are capable of generating revenue for the country in local and foreign currencies, creates millions of direct and indirect jobs if properly developed.
Some of the tourist sites are the European Cementry in lokoja, Confluence of river Niger and river Benue, first church in Northern Nigeria, first hospital in northern Nigeria, first Post Office in northern Nigeria, first river jetty in Nigeria, first bank in Nigeria, caves, mountains Aquatic resources, cultural festivals among others.
Come Saturday, November 11, 2023, 1.6 million registered voters will file out to elect a new governor that will take over the state’s mantle of leadership from the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello whose tenure will lapse on January 27, 2024.
The registered voters will file out to vote at 2,548 polling units spread across 239 wards in 21 local government areas of the state.
They will vote to decide the man that will preside over the affairs of the state with projected population of 4, 486, 800 people scattered over 29, 833km2 land mass called Kogi State.
Kogi State, a strategically located state in the North Central Nigeria is the 13 largest state in Nigeria in term of land mass and the 20th most populous state in the country.
The state was created from the old Kwara and Benue State on August 27, 1991 by the military administration of President Ibrahim Babangida is at the very centre of the entity called Nigeria and serve as a link between the Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria.
Its capital, Lokoja narrowly lost to Abuja as Nigeria new Federal Capital Territory due lack of enough land and many hills dotting its landscape according to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
It is a very strategic state to Nigeria in terms of economy, security, unity, agriculture, industry, commerce, mining etc Indeed, Kogi State is the future of Nigeria, it holds the ace for the economic and food security, prosperity and unity of Nigeria.
It is in the light of the above that the coming governorship election in Kogi State should be of interest to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion.
Conclusion: With the above submissions, Kogi State is actually the Power House of Nigeria. Kogi State simply means Confluence Opportunities for Nigeria and Nigerians.
The opportunities are there waiting and beckoning on the Federal Government, local and foreign investors to exploit and develop for the economic well-being of all Nigerians.
Kogi State is a state all Nigerians should make conscious and deliberate efforts to protect in the collective present interest and future interest.
As registered voters in the state are warming up to vote in the forthcoming November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state, Nigerians should pray and fast ahead of the election.
Nigerians should observe three days of fasting and prayers before the November 11, election.
Our prayer points should be God to give all stakeholders in the election, security, INEC, media, parties, candidates, voters, etc the courage to do the right things on election day.
We should particularly pray God to let voters be in the right frame of mind so that they can vote wisely.
Should the voters file out to vote blindly on the election day, over 200 million Nigerians will face the consequences of their action
