AS Kogi state marked the 26th anniversary of its creation the governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday charged the people to explore their diversity to further develop the state.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Petra Onyegbule, also called on the people to reflect on the past to enable them move forward.
The Governor said he believed that if everyone had imbibed the spirit of “Kogi first” all these years, the state would have been one of the most prosperous states in the country today, stating that it is the driving force behind his commitment to have a unified state.
“The beauty of our individuality is the strength in our diversity therefore it should unite and not divide us, “Bello said.
He also called on the youths of the state to continually build peace as no meaningful development can take place without peaceful coexistence and security.
The Governor tasked the people to recall how far they have come as a state from the days when Kogi State was a safe haven for kidnappers, armed robbers and terrorists, when people lived in the crippling fear of criminals and investors avoided our dear state like a plague.
“The story today is different because we faced the menace headlong without minding whose ox was gored and today, Kogi is safer than ever,” he said.
The governor asked the people to draw inspiration from the success recorded together in tackling insecurity under his leadership as work is ongoing to defeat poverty and ensure economic prosperity for all.
He charged them to put the state first in all their doings as it is the only way it could move in the New Direction to the desired destination where everyone has ample opportunities to reach their potentials.
and then