By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
A Traditional Ruler and Onu of Itobe, HRH Alhaji Salihu Adaji has appealed to Kogi State Government to build a General hospital in Itobe, Ofu Local Government of the state, to address the health needs of the ancient community.
Adaji made the call during a Constituency town hall meeting organized by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in partnership with Initiative for Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria, (INGRA) with support from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Itobe, on Friday.
The Royal Father decried the absence of good health facilities and potable drinking water in Itobe saying that since Kogi State was created in 1991, the community had not benefited from the state budgetary allocations for health.
He regretted that Itobe district which was created in 1926 by the colonial administration, had continued to suffer neglected by successive governments.
Adaji said that several appeals had been made to the State Government to upgrade the primary health facility in Itobe to a General Hospital and provide of portable drinking water, to no avail.
“My people are crying on daily basis because they need good health facilities to attend to their health needs. We have recorded many casualties because we don’t have good health facilities and portable water to drink.
“When we have serious cases of health, we are forced to rush to neighbouring Anyigba, Ajaokuta, or even Lokoja. At times, before my people get there, things have gone bad.
The monarch also drew the attention of the organization to the deplorable condition of internal roads saying that during raining seasons, some parts of Itobe township roads were usually cut off, thereby, making life unbearable for the people in the community.
Adaji lauded outgoing Governor Yahaya Bello for his developmental initiatives in the last eight years and charged the incoming administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to consolidate on the achievements.
“We want to say a big congratulations to the successful tenure of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. He started well and he is ending well. Our prayers is that, the incoming administration will do more for the people of Kogi State”, he said.
Mr Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director of INGRA in his welcome address said that INGRA with the support of it’s partners, had always was in the forefront of initiating programmes to support interactions with people at the community level to bring their views and aspirations to bear on policies.
Aliyu who was represented by the Organization’s Programme Officer, Mr Ikechukwu Mpama, explained that there were large gaps between constituents and their elected representatives.
He said there is always need for the people to engage their elected lawmakers both at the State and National Assemblies for them to enjoy true dividends of democracy.
Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, Chairperson, Kogi State NGO network (KONGONET), in his presentation: “An Overview of 2023 called on the incoming administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to capture the building of General Hospital in a Supplementary Budget.
He also urged the in-coming Governor to construct a functional Government Work for the treatment and reticulation of potable water for the people of Itobe through the supplementary budget to the state State House of Assembly.
” It is very worrisome and unfortunate that Itobe which happens to be an ancient community does not have portable drinking water, good township road, cottage or even general hospital.
“We are calling on the member representing Ofu constituency to lobby the Executive to ensure that the hospital and water projects are captured when the supplementary budget comes”, he said.
