Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, Senator Sunday Karimi has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited one of the worst economic problems in the Fourth Republic but he is committed to turn around the despicable situation.
Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District disclosed this at the maiden edition of Igbaruku Day organised by Igbaruku-Okeri Community Development Association (ICDA) in Igbaruku-Okeri, Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State during the Easter.
According to the lawmaker, the administration has exuded commitment towards rebuilding and transforming the economy to a virile, strong, self-sufficient economy.
He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the president expressing optimism that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration was a long-term vision driven by proactive policy towards achieving sustainable economic recovery, and was already yielding fruits.
The senator explained that the process of achieving economic recovery should be seen as a collective effort both by government and the citizenry “Since government alone cannot make all that is good for the people happen”.
He urged the people to be patriotic and committed to the development of their communities, noting that with the citizens playing their parts, the economic challenges being faced by the current administration will be reasonably addressed with major successes and in the short-term.
“The government of Tinubu inherited a bad, in fact the worst situation, so far. Tinubu met the average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 1.8 per cent. The four years average preceding the administration of Tinubu was 15.1 per cent.
“Nigeria was so bad that government printed money without activities to back it up. It is still our government, APC (All Progressives Congress). We admit that. Nigerian Naira was almost turned to paper, where one US Dollar equated 1900 Naira. But the Tinubu government is not resting on its oars.
“They are working tirelessly everyday to find solutions to the problems. Today, one Dollar equals 1,300 Naira. Port Harcourt refinery is back, Warri refinery is back. With patience with President Tinubu, we will live to see the Nigeria of our dream, in the short-term,” he said.
He assured of his commitment to the infrastructural development of Kogi West, adding that he would ensure that the Iluhagba-Egbe Federal Trunk A Road is rehabilitated.
He also promised that the palliative repairs ongoing will resume very shortly so as to help ease the transportation of farm produce as well as improve the economy of the area.
The Senator, who declared his support for financial autonomy of local councils also said there the need for the sub nationals to drum support for the “State Police” proposal in order to ensure the security of lives, properties and the economy of the local communities, he noted that the security of all Nigerians is a major priority and would be treated as such by the national assembly so as to give proper legislation to it whenever it comes up for deliberation.
He prayed for the peace and prosperity of Igbaruku, Yagba, Kogi West and the nation at large.
In his response, the Onigbaruku of Igbaruku, Oba J.O Babalola, decried the fallen standard of public schools in terms of absence of conducive learning environment, infrastructure and dearth of teachers in the community.
He decried the lack of qualified teaching staff at the Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Oke-Eri and appealed to the federal, state and Yagba West local governments to also come to the aid of the community in the areas of education and youth development, security and environmental protection, health services and reticulation of borehole water and road construction with emphasis on Okutadudu-Iyamerin-Igbaruku-Odo-Ara-Omi-Ogga-Omuo-Ekiti Federal Road.
At the occasion, a 12-member committee (on) Igbaruku Council of Chiefs was inaugurated pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 of Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition) and Establishment of Traditional Councils Law 2006; conferment of chieftaincy titles on individual contributors to community development projects and awards of excellence to individuals who have displayed outstanding leadership prowess.
Some distinguished sons and daughters of the community were honoured. They included Senator Smart Adeyemi, former Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Austen Olorunsola, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Mortgage Bank, Mr Korede Adedayo, Engr Adefaramade Oniya, Chief Richard Asaje and Ms Yemisi Oshaloto.
The occasion was attended by the Minority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Idowu Ibikunle, Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Development, Engr Joseph Olusegun (who also represented Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo), members of Yagba West Traditional Council and many other Illustrious sons and daughters of Okunland.
