Sen. Abubakar Ohere (APC-Kogi) has pledged to come up with legislations that would ensure the revamping of Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi.
This he said was to ensure job creation and economic development of the state and country at large.
He said this at a reception held in Abuja on Thursday to celebrate his inauguration as senator in the 10th Assembly.
“We are going to deploy the usefulness of that office to the benefit of Ebira land and Kogi Central in particular that gave me the trust.”
Ohere who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District said that the rehabilitation of the company required everybody’s attention.
He said that Governor Yahaya Bello had helped to secure to a level, the Ajaokuta Steel company Limited and the Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company.
“You all know what happened in the last few months, it was programmed for concession without due process.
“But it took the intervention of our traditional rulers, the Ministry of Local Government and indeed our governor through the instrumentality of the judiciary to stop that reckless transaction.
“The company will form part of our focus in the National Assembly,” Ohere said.
He also said that in carrying out his legislative assignment, in the next one month, “we are going to roll out employment for over 60 graduates.
“These graduates are going to represent me as legislative assistants in the 57 wards of Kogi Central. This employment is coming up immediately,” he said.
He appreciated Bello for the confidence reposed in him.
“I am very conscious of the fact that haven done well by his excellency, my leader and my mentor in terms of health.
“We all know what he has done in Kogi Central. When we talk on roads, we all know what he has done in terms of road connectivity; the education sector, he is a performer in that sector.
“But in the provision of water, I want to agree that we still have some gaps to capture and this gap that we have to capture will be my focus and immediate attention in terms of legislation.
“We still have part of Ebira Land that are in darkness that are not enjoying full measure of electricity.
“I also have the intention to do some level of constituency projects that will take electricity to some of these communities,” Ohere said.
Speaking at the event, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Kogi, Mr Momoh Obaro described Ohere as a man of the people.
“He is capable. He has been through the civil service as a commissioner in Kogi.
“What we are expecting is quality representation. We expect him to put our issues on the front burner in the national assembly.
Obaro, however described the emergence of Sen. God’swill Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom), the Senate President as a great feat.
He said that the process which produced Akpabio was democratic.
“I’m particularly happy with the speech of how he intends to work for Nigerians. I’m hopeful that that kind of commitment and promise is going to take place.
“Nigerians really need to be worked for. Right now, there are a lot of issues and I’m sure he is quite endowed as a former governor.
“He is close to the grassroot. He has a better understanding of the issues, the suffering of the people. I’m very hopeful he is in a position to be able to address the issue of poverty.”
Also former Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Omolori expressed optimism that Ohere would bring about quality representation for the people of Kogi Central.
“We are happy about it. He is somebody who has been in public life. He has been tested and trusted too. It’s the beginning of a new dawn,” he said.
