Ajaokuta steel campaigner, Akpoti lauds Shagari on industrialisation

THE Kogi state born campaigner for the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Natasha Akpoti, has described late Nigerian ex-president, Shehu Shagari, as a visionary leader committed to the industrial development of the country.

Akpoti, who led Kogi state indigenes to sympathise with the family of the family of the late president, said Shagari was a foremost nationalist in his desire to project an industrialized Nigeria through the establishment Ajaokuta Steel Company in her senatorial district in Kogi State.

A statement by her media office said Akpoti spoke on behalf of Ebira people who are the host community of the giant steel plant, Akpoti told the children of the late ex-president that their father’s dream was to position Nigeria as the bedrock of Africa’s Industrialisation to generate billions of revenue and millions of jobs for the country.

Recounting her ordeals while championing the four year agitation for Ajaokuta steel resuscitation, Akpoti said Shagari’s vision, courage and integrity inspired her advocacy which she said had finally received the government’s attention after her debate on the floor of the National Assembly on March 1st 2018, result of which she said led to the passage of $1b funding for the reactivation of the moribund plant.

Akpoti, who is also the Kogi central senatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), posited that she would consolidate on the foundation set by the late hero and ensure her efforts at the Senate when is elected, are geared towards the realisation of Shagari’s vision for an industrialised Nigeria.

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“The good people of Kogi Central District, Kogi State and Nigerians at large hold your family dearly in our hearts and prayers at this time of grief. Know that your father’s name is written on the golden sands of time in Kogi State. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and let our hero rest In peace,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of Shagari’s family, the first son and district Head of Shagari Local Government, retired Captain Bala Mohammed Shagari, thanked Natasha and the entire delegation for their gesture, recalled how his father in 1979 led the Nigerian Steel Development Authority into a technical Partnership with TyazPromExport (TPE) of Russia (then USSR) to lay the foundation stone for Ajaokuta steel plant on the 24,000 hectares of Ajaokuta landmass.

He emphasised the reality of strong international conspiracies especially from the Western world who by the influence of their foreign policies through international organizations stalled the realization of the one true project sure of guaranteeing Nigeria’s economic independence.

Similarly, Aminu Shagari who represents Shagari/Yabo constituency at the House of Representatives added that his contributions at the National Assembly towards the Nigerian Steel sector was to ensure that his late father’s vision for an economically sustainable Nigeria is achieved through her Industrialisation.

He admitted that the steadfast journey was tough for his father but will be tougher for the reformists today because the powers that disrupted Ajaokuta Steel are still very much present with tentacles deep in national politics.

He, however, advised that determination for nation building must be the greatest desire every Nigerian should bear.