Kogi @ 31: Kogi residents called to work towards peaceful co-existence 

The Managing Director of Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA), Hajiya Rekiya Sanni,  has called for peaceful co-existence among the citizens of Kogi to speed up growth and development of the state.

Sanni made the call Saturday while felicitating with Governor Yahaya Bello and the residents of the state on the 31st anniversary of the creation of Kogi.

He made the call via a statement issued in Lokoja, the State capital by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Yemi Balogun.

She said: “As we celebrate our 31st statehood anniversary this day, Aug. 27, I urge both residents and citizens of Kogi to maintain peaceful co-existence to quicken growth and development of the state.”

She described the emergence of Kogi as a state on August 27, 1991 during the Military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, as “divine and a blessing to the people.

“This year’s anniversary is remarkable given the way and manner we have been able to surmount our challenges and utilise our opportunities to be where we are today in terms of development.

“Therefore, we shouldn’t allow our religious, ethnic and political differences deny us of the desired peaceful co-existence that is the stimulus to growth and development of any given society.

“We must resist any temptation to crisis and violence that could rob us of our desired peace and progress as a state in the Nigerian nation.”

Sanni, however, congratulated Bello and the people of Kogi on the occasion and prayed for more of God’s divine blessings upon the state.

While acknowledging how far Kogi has come in the comity of states in the country, Sanni expressed gladness that the administration of Bello had built Kogi on the very legacies laid down by the founding fathers.

“No doubt our amiable Bello has taken our state to an impressive new level through physical infrastructure, human investment, health care, education and agricultural development.

“We owe it a duty to, as citizens and residents of Kogi, commend our governor’s unprecedented leadership qualities at improving the quality of our lives and the progress made so far.

“As the state marks its 31st anniversary year, on behalf of my team here at KEDA and the entire business community in our dear state, I wish the state a new dawn of greater possibilities and growth,” she said.