By SundiataPOST, Abuja
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, on Saturday, urged political leaders in Kogi State to adopt proactive measures to address any breakdown of law and order in the state.
Maku made the call at a Town Hall Meeting in Lokoja to end the tour of projects in Kogi by the National Good Governance team.
The minister stressed the need for leaders in the state to support the peace efforts by government to douse tension often generated as a result of political activities.
He advised that security must not be taken for granted, stressing that “Kogi is the heart of the nation and we must not tolerate any disruption of peace in the state.
“Government is doing its best to secure the state, but it cannot do it all alone.
“Let us therefore lend a helping hand to the government for the sustenance of peace in the state by dealing with minor crisis before it degenerates into a major one.’’
Maku, who congratulated the Golden Eaglets’ 3-0 victory against Mexico to lift the FIFA Under 17 World Cup on Friday in the United Arab Emirate, attributed the victory to government reform in the sporting sector.
According to the him, the achievements of the nation’s sports men and women in international competitions are some of the glaring signs of Nigeria’s growing profile in the international community.
He said the achievements in sports and other sectors of the economy have shown that Nigeria was a nation succeeding through sheer determination of its people and leaders.
“It is important to note that when a nation is on the rise, you see it in the confidence of its citizens.
“The reality is that the spirit of the youth is rising and the nation itself is rising, that is what our sports men and women have demonstrated,’’ he said.
On the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Maku said “it will be a crime for this nation to allow its huge investments in that company to vanish just like that.’’
He, therefore, restated Federal Government’s determination not to be distracted or intimidated to abandon the transformation programme.
There were goodwill messages from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) and the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS).
They separately expressed the hope that Nigeria would be better, but urged everyone to partake in the country’s progress and development initiatives.
Most of the speakers thanked the Kogi government for its vision and concept of continuity in project execution, but stressed the need for improvement.
The Deputy National President of NUJ, Mr Rotimi Obamuwagun, urged the Federal Government to ensure timely completion of the Lokoja-Abuja expressway.
He also called for improved partnership between the federal and state governments to ensure efficient use of resources for the development of the economy.
The Deputy National President of RATTAWU, Mr Jethro Sunday, called for continuity in the execution of projects started by previous administrations.
He urged the private sector to support governments’ development efforts by providing basic amenities to the people.
