The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Area Traditional Council, Oba (Dr) Solomon Dele Owoniyi has urged the people of Okunland to strive towards strengthening the bond of unity among them.
The Obaro, who gave the charge in his New Year message to the people, said it was only by forging a united front that the people of the area could realize their collective aspirations.
He said: “A New Year has dawned. Let us rise as one in hope towards restoring all that we have lost. To achieve that, we need to forge a united front to confront all the troublous winds that that assail us. When we act in unity, nothing shall be unachievable for us.”
Oba Owoniyi expressed appreciation for the good conduct of the Okun peope which he said made it possible to conduct the recent governorship election in the state in a peaceful atmosphere.
He urged the people to continue to maintain peace as well as to support the administration of the incoming Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to enable him translate his campaign promises into positive programmes and projects that would add value to the lives of the people.
He paid glowing tributes to the outgoing Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for establishing the Kogi State University, which he said had satisfied the long term yearnings of Okun people for such an institution of higher learning in their area.
The traditional ruler said in spite of the achievements recorded in 2023, Okunland was still faced with some serious challenges which were negativey impacting the lives of the people.
Such challenges, he said included youth unemployment, consumption of hard drugs and other psychotropic substances by the youths, the menace of herders who were destroying the farms of the people and the challenge of kidnapping for ransom on the highways.
He noted that the government had introduced various measures to tackle those monsters and enjoined the people to continue to cooperate with the state government to ensure that the steps taken achieved the desired results.
Oba Owoniyi also acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts at revamping the economy, such as the removal of subsidy on petrol and the floating of the Naira had created more hardship for Nigerians but implored the people to continue to support the Tinubu administration in its bid to bring succour to them.
The Obaro praised traditional rulers and community leaders in Okunland for galvanizing the peope to embark on self help activities and appealed to the leaders to continue to encourage the people to toe such path in the new year and beyond.
