Community Leader Wants Kogi Govt Create LCDAs In Ebiraland

TAIWO ADELU

The 40th coronation anniversary celebration of the Ohindasi of Okengwen, HRH, Chief Steven Bello, which was held early this week was turned to agitation by concerned citizens for development of Ebiraland in Kogi State by the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). 

This is because the hue and cry for adequate government’s presence at local level, with regard to physical development, has continued to agitate more and more minds. The local areas arguably house more, above 70 percent, of Nigeria’s population, making this tier of government the closest to the people. Thus, the dividends of government can only be felt better if the rural and less urbanized populations are paid sufficient attention by way of ensuring sustainable developmental initiatives in them.

This was the position strongly canvassed  by Alhaji Suleiman Damisa a.k.a Custom Damisa at the occasion of 40th coronation anniversary celebration of the Ohindasi of Okengwen, HRH, Chief Steven Bello.

Alhaji Damisa didn’t only harp on the need for the development of rural areas via just any means, he called on the Kogi State Government to create Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the 21 local councils in the state.

He opined that the four local governments in Ebiraland in  Kogi Central Senatorial District have the capacity to birth, nurture and sustain three LCDA each. According to him, these LCDAs would serve as focal points or nucleus of development from where its effects trickles down to the surrounding communities.

The retired senior Custom officer; fellow of Chartered Institute of Economics and a passionate community right activist, who  cited Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kano, Jigawa, among others as states where LCDAs have proved to be effective vehicles of development at the grassroots, frowned at what he termed “a disjointed rural development structure”- a situation where, for instance, the local government Chairman sits and superintends over developments in Ganaja village from Adogo, or same in Ogaminana for Zango-Daji. This, he described, as “a system no longer productive”.

Specifically, he mentioned Okengwe, Ageva, Ihima, Obangede, Eika, Kuroku, Osara, Zango-Daji, Eganyi, Steel township and Ganaja village as some of the communities in Ebiraland suiting for LCDAs.

Conscious of the possible argument that could be advanced that the Wards Councillors can ensure the proper development of their constituencies and communities, Alhaji Damisa maintained that the LCDAs will not temper with the  nomenclature or power structure of local governments as it presently subsists. He further pointed out that two or more wards could form one LCDA with the functions of elected local government officers still intact.

He made this clarification against the possible attempt by politicians; Chairmen and  Councillors to frustrate the idea owing to fear of being stripped off certain powers.

Alhaji Damisa Suleiman, Community leader in Igbiraland in Kogi State  

He urged the state government to promulgate the LCDAs via an Executive Bill to the House of Assembly where it will undergo necessity ary legislative processes for eventual gazetted. 

While enumerating some of the benefits that accrue from the LCDAs to the mother local governments, state and the nation by extension to include “attraction of developments closer the people; creation of job for our teeming youths; generation revenue to the local governments; opening up of new land as development clusters thereby easing congestions in our already-stressed local government headquarters like Okene and others; checkmating insecurity as the managers of the LCDAs are saddled with ensuring safety in their domain and promoting of healthy competition among LCDAs. ”

The five Ebira Traditional Districts were represented at the event by their Chiefs who joyfully gave their blessings to the LCDAs concept.