By Stephen Adeleye
A civil society organisation, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR),on Wednesday called on Kogi Government to establish a state-owned television that help enlightened the citizens.
Idris Miliki, CHRCR Executive Director, made the call in press statement issued in Lokoja, as part of activities to mark the 32 years of creation of Kogi State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports: that Kogi was created on the Aug. 27, 1991, during the military government of Retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, which had had four military Governors, and four civilian governors, including an Acting Governor.
“As at today, 32 years on, Kogi is the only state in the federation without a state-owned television stations in this 22nd century,” he asserted.
Miliki also urged the state government to initiate a Bill for the establishment of Anti Corruption Agency to checkmate corruption in the state.
He added: “We call on Gov Yahaya Bello led out-going government to as a matter of urgency, initiate a Bill to the State House of Assembly towards the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Agency in the state.
“Lokoja Metropolis faces challenge of flow of portable water in weeks, and sometimes several months, in spite the God-given confluence of the two (2) great Rivers Niger and Benue.
“The roads across the state need some touch to be near international standards, as potholes are the major characteristics of some of the roads in the state.
“While we acknowledge some relative improvements on infrastructure in the state, in the last two (2) and half years, compared to the failure of the first four years in Kogi under the present administration.
“We call on the out-going Government to take inventory of all abandon projects across the state before the handing-over date.
“We enjoin the incoming government to review, its present relationship with the privately owned Cement Factory, to a more productive and beneficiary to the state.”
He stressed the need to gazette and publish many ungazetted laws that had been passed by the State Assembly since its creation 32 years ago.
He advised the incoming government to look at available resources in the state, both human and material, that could be used for the development of the state.
He urged Kogi Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to, as a matter of urgency, commence the process that would lead to the conduct of Local Government Elections as the tenure of the present Local Government Councils will end on Dec. 14.
“As we work towards the Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi, we call on all candidates and their political parties to make their ongoing campaigns issues based, and caution their supporters to shun electoral violence,” Miliki said.
Responding, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, State Commissioner for Information, said, “Governance is a serious business and we will rather concentrate on governance than dissipate energy on organizations that are craving for clout.”(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)