‘We’re evolving new leadership agenda in Ebiraland’

Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Tom Ohikere, in this interview with Yekini Jimoh, speaks on issues that affect the state. Excerpts:

YOU are from Central Senatorial district of Kogi State and there is this crisis in Ebiraland that has been lingering for long, what do you think has been responsible for this endless crisis?

The problem in Ebiraland comes from accumulated grievances of the past. The cause of the crises can also be traced to errors in marriages, traditions, culture, economic prospect and leadership of the land. For us to be able to eradicate these problems, we may need to take a look into the past and compare it with the present so that we would be able to proffer a lasting solution to the problems in Ebira politics.

Recently, the state governor, Dr. Ibrahim Idris, set up a committee to look into the possibility of addressing these setbacks, how far has the committee gone with its term of reference?

The committee has completed its assignment and the white paper has been issued. As part of the submission of white paper, there are conditions given for the participation of masquerades in annual festivals in Ebiraland. The white paper also touches on the traditional institution in Ebiraland. For example, the Ohinoyi is the head of the traditional institution in the area and not the Attah of Ebiraland. The title, Attah, is supposed to be an appellation. It also contains the need for local governments in Ebiraland to respect traditional institutions and the authority of the Ohinoyi, and they are to have regard for other Ohis that have been established as first class chiefs for every local government area. There is also the intention of the government towards industrial take-off in Ebira community. The society is one of wonderful and intelligent people who are hard working and very resourceful.
The conclusion of the white paper is that when all these conditions are met, industrialisation would commence and Ebiraland would become one of the economic melting pots of the country. So, the white paper has been out, but it seems Ebiraland is still highly disorganised.The result is what we have been witnessing for quite sometime now. One of the major problems in Ebiraland right now is the need to embark on political re-engineering. For example, in any democratic governance, investors, both home and abroad, are normally attracted. But take a look at our Ajaokuta and Itapke Iron Ore companies; they are depreciating and this means that our people should have sober reflection and come together in a way that we can make progress, so that we would not be left behind while other ethnic groups are at the forefront.
As an indigene of Ebiraland, I pray to belong to the group that would re-write our history. Towards this end, we have resolved to enter a new agenda for the leadership in Ebiraland. We are going to be more concerned about these problems that we have underscored and understudied in recent times. We are going to fit into the main stream of the state and national politics.
The governor is planning to build more quarters in all the government hospitals in the state. He also plans to build cottage industries in all the five local government areas that constitute the Central Senatorial district.
In the area of information, the governor has invested a lot in order to bridge the communication gap between the people and the government. The governor also donated two buses and laptop computers to journalists in the state so as to ease their jobs. He also promised to give the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre in the state a facelift.

What advice do you have for the people of the Kogi State at this critical moment?

We will continue to call for the support of the people of the state so that we can make more progress in 2009. We need the support of the people and that of the opposition because government, at all levels, is about the people. We should remove this individualistic tendency in our leadership style and think more about the people. Now that the issue of post-election litigation is over, we should join hands with the government. We should imbibe the spirit of sportsmen. You cannot win always; sometimes, you win and at times, you lose. When you lose, you should join the wining team to make progress possible. Kogi State is for all of us. Therefore, let us make it a state of reality. Read or add your comment here