Ohinoyi advocates for rotating governorships in three senatorial districts in Kogi

By Stephen Adeleye.

The HRM of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ahmed Tijani-Anaje, has called for the rotation of governorship seats in the three senatorial districts of Kogi State to enshrine equality, fairness and justice.

The Paramount Ruler made this call when the management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, led by its Rector, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, paid a courtesy visit to Ohinoyi’s palace in Okene on Friday.

The revered monarch stressed that relevant stakeholders must critically examine his advice and work towards legislation that would provide for the allocation of the governorship on a rotation basis.

“Kogi State belongs to all of us. Rotating our governorship in Kogi State is the best way to move forward. I am optimistic that one day the stakeholders will sit down and look at the matter critically.”

“If it's a rotation and your term is expiring, there's no need for the other side to step forward and run; it's important to shift the post to the other side.

“I believe this will help ease tensions and embed equality, fairness and justice in our state,” Ohiniyi said.

The Royal Father stressed the need for unity among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria, noting that without unity, there can be no meaningful development.

He commended the Rector for his tremendous achievements at the institution, particularly the establishment of the School of Agricultural Technology to ensure food security in Kogi and Nigeria.

“The performance of Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman is highly commendable and appreciated by all in the state.

“Now I understand why the governor extended your term. I am now convinced that you deserve more. You are not only doing this to help the students, but you are helping the entire nation,” the monarch said.

The royal father praised Governor Ahmed Ododo for his achievements in Kogi during his short tenure and stressed that the governor is doing a good job.

He commended the youths of Kogi for their non-participation in the #EndBadGovernance protests, describing this decision as highly commendable and called on the Nigerian youth to seek dialogue.

He, however, urged Nigerians to return to agriculture, stressing that this would ensure food security and economic development in the country.

“There are over 100 people working in this palace and I have instructed them all to go into farming.

“Agriculture is the only way out of this plight. Here in this palace, I have my own farm so that I and my family can be self-sufficient,” said Ohinoyi.

He commended the Rector and his management team for the visit and assured them of his full support for the improvement of the institution and the state in general.

He called on the Polytechnic to submit to the Palace the relevant documents that could help the traditional council to resolve the issue of the expansion of the intake campus amicably and without crisis.

The Rector had previously explained that the visit to Ohinoyi was to officially congratulate the Supreme Ruler on his accession to the throne, to inform him of his reappointment and to ask for prayers, support and fatherly advice.

The principal added that the visit was also to urge the royal father to intervene against the encroachment on the school premises of his satellite campus in Itakpe in Adavi Local Government Area.

The Rector spoke about the achievements of his tenure and said that with the support of his management team and the Governor, the Polytechnic has become a global brand.

He explained that apart from the numerous infrastructural developments, they have also succeeded in rehabilitating the system by curbing examination cheating, insecurity, cultism and other social vices in the institution.

He added that the institution has achieved 100 percent accreditation of all its programs and closed revenue gaps through full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and digitized audits.

“Under my supervision, we were able to hold ten joint assemblies between 2014 and 2023, improve employee welfare, and implement and pay out promotion backlogs between 2014 and 2020.

“The welfare of our employees is our top priority and we are optimistic that the Governor will soon approve the payment of the accumulated promotion arrears for the years 2021 to 2023,” he said.

The Rector promised not to disappoint the royal father, the former and current governors, the people of the state and the nation as a whole.