Kogi varsity alumni urge leaders to emulate Audu on development

KOGI State University (KSU) Alumni has urged political leaders in the state to emulate late Prince Abubakar Audu’s passion for infrastructural and human capital development.

Chairman, Steering Committee of the Abuja Chapter of the Alumni, Mr. James Ugbeda, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a candle light procession for the late Audu, held at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja late on Saturday.

Audu, a two-time governor of Kogi, died on November 22 at age at 68. He was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 21 gubernatorial election that was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the day Audu died.

Ugbeda described the late Audu as an extra-ordinary person, who had genuine concern and passion for the development of Kogi and its people.

He said that though Audu might have had his shortcoming as a human being, he left behind numerous legacies, which political leaders in the state should sustain and emulate.

“Political leaders in Kogi State should shun active partisanship and concentrate more on infrastructural and human capital development in the state.

“Development is what people are clamouring for, not which tribe becomes the governor of the state. It is who will transform the state to where it ought to be that should matter,” Ugbeda said.

He said that Kogi was blessed with abundant natural resources that could transform the state and the lives of the people if harnessed.
“We want leaders that will look beyond gathering the youth and giving them peanuts; we want leaders, who will bring human and infrastructural development to Kogi. Leaders that will ensure that the Ajaokuta Steel Company is revived to solve unemployment,” Ugbeda said.

Also, the Public Relations Officer of KSU Alumni Association Mr. Felix Okolo said that the event was organised in recognition of the late Audu’s contribution to the development of the state while he was the state governor.

Okolo, an Abuja-based private legal practitioner, said that since Audu’s, no other administration in the state was able to equal the standard of infrastructural development achieved by the late prince.

“The annual lecture will also be used to talk to our present leaders to see the need to embark on infrastructure development including water, education and roads for people in Kogi to enjoy,” he said.

Other members of the alumni during the candle night programme also spoke about the personality and contributions of Audu to the state development.