A Politician and Miner, Chief Bolufemi Rotimi has charged communities in Kogi West Senatorial Zone not to abandon the development of their areas in the hands of government alone. He said all stakeholders ought to contribute in fostering development as government resources are not unlimited.
Bolufemi made this known on Saturday in MopAmuro Local Government Area, while delivering goodwill remarks at the 2022 Takete Ide Day, an annual celebration of culture and tradition. He was Chairman of the occasion.
He commended people of Takete Ide for their selfless services and commitment to infrastructure development, noting that evidences of that abound in education, road maintenance, health, provision of street lights and ongoing construction of a civic centre.
Bolufemi, also a frontline Governorship Hopeful decried the marginalization of the Senatorial District in politics of the State, since its creation in 1991. He said a situation where no indigine of the District has been elected into the number one office in the State was unhealthy for uniform and accelerated devopment.
Going down memory lane, he said the dream of the founding fathers of the State would remain unfulfilled as long as any of it’s ethnic units is excluded from leadership positions. He therefore appealed to the other Senatorial Zones to support power shift to Kogiwest while also urging the zone to queue behind their own.
“In the spirit of fairness and equity, it is the turn of Okun to be Governor. We expect all political parties and our fellow politicians from Kogi
East and Central to be conscious of this as we go into the Primaries. What goes around must come around. If God grant my quest for the Governorship, the construction of Takete Ide road and other rural areas will be a priority.
“Kogi is too rich to be poor. We will harness our vast solid mineral deposits for development. One can see the selfless commitment of our people in contributing money for community development. I will continue to associate with such efforts. There is however a limit to what we can do. And that is why I seek your mandate to lead a responsible and responsive government that will bring a Kogi of our dream.
Earlier Prince Richard Fiki, President Takete Ide Progressive Union, TIPU in an address had lamented on the deplorable condition of roads and facilities at the only Secondary School in the community, pleading for urgent intervention of government. He also appealed to politicians to play by the rules in the current election cycle.
“Let us ignore the things that easily divide us, while holding firmly to those that unite. Takete Ide is one. We received it as one from our predecessors. We must hand it over as one to our successors.
“No one kindles a fire on the roof and expects a sound sleep. May the peace of God continue to reign in our midst.
“To our politicians, I urge you to play by the rules, as we keep community interest first. May God elect leaders after his own heart for us.
The Olude of Ide, Oba Philip Ebilakun appealed for peace and unity in the area and urged everyone to be security conscious.
MopAmuro LG Chairman Sunday Moses, represented by the council Secretary, Mr. Bamidele Eseyin promised to look into all the requests of the community within the limit of available resources.
The ceremony witnessed presentation of awards to deserving persons, performances by several social cultural groups, dances, prayers and others.
It attracted dignitaries from all works of life including the Alamuro of Amuro Oba Aiyedogbpn, politicians from across political parties, notably Dr.Folorunsho Olafemi All Progressives Congress, APC candidate Yagba Federal Constituency, Olawumi, Jacob, APC candidate MopAmuro State Constituency, his People’s Democratic Party, PDP counterpart, Jones Daniel, the clergy and the business world. Members of the Takete Ide Council of Chiefs, in their traditional regalia added colour to the day.
Hon. Bola Omoniwa Chairman of the Takete Ide Day 2022 Planning Committee appreciated all participants in the annual festival.
