Delegation calls for power, road and rail interventions as minister pledges commitment but cites constitutional hurdles
By DANJUMA AMODU
ABUJA — Elders and stakeholders from Kogi East have urged the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, to sustain his push for development in Igala and Bassa lands and to play a leading role in fostering peace, unity and reconciliation across the region.
The appeal came on Friday when members of the Kogi East Elders Council and the Okura State Movement visited Audu in his Abuja office. The delegation was led by Professor Godwin Ogbadu, chairman of the Kogi East Elders Council, alongside Dr. Haruna Ugwolawo, secretary-general of the Okura State Movement, and other notable leaders from Kogi East, Igala and Bassa Nation. The visit was disclosed in a press statement issued by Lizzy Okoji, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister.
“Meaningful development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and unity.”
— Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, Kogi East Elders Council
The elders commended Audu for advancing the interests of Kogi East at the federal level. They also paid tribute to his late father, former governor Prince Abubakar Audu, saying his administration delivered landmark projects that the people still benefit from today.
Professor Ogbadu said the delegation’s mission was to encourage the minister to remain steadfast in championing Kogi East’s development. He appealed for interventions in rural electrification, the rehabilitation of abandoned federal roads, and the revival of the railway line from Ajaokuta through Igala Land to Otukpo.
Dr. Ugwolawo renewed the long-standing demand for the creation of Okura State, describing it as the aspiration of the people for greater inclusion, faster development and improved governance. He asked the minister to lend his support within constitutional processes.
Professor Lucy Ogbadu stressed the need for reconciliation among political leaders, traditional rulers, elites and the wider public in Kogi East. She informed the minister of a forthcoming Truth and Reconciliation Summit scheduled for June 2026 and called for his active participation and support.
Responding, Audu thanked the elders and stakeholders for the visit, describing it as a great honour to receive prominent leaders of the land. He assured the delegation of his continued commitment to the development and welfare of the people of Kogi East.
While acknowledging the aspirations surrounding the creation of Okura State, he urged the people to prioritise peace, unity and reconciliation. He noted the constitutional and political complexities that have historically hindered the creation of new states over many decades.
Audu emphasised that sustainable development could only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and collective purpose. He said he would continue to engage relevant federal authorities on the infrastructure requests raised.
Calls for Okura State have persisted for decades, rooted in demands for greater representation and resource allocation in the eastern part of Kogi State. Constitutional amendments to create new states require approval by the National Assembly and a majority of state assemblies, a process that has stalled previous attempts across Nigeria. Kogi East also faces persistent infrastructure deficits, with parts of the region struggling with unreliable electricity supply while several federal roads and the Ajaokuta-Otukpo rail corridor remain underdeveloped or abandoned, limiting economic activity.
