Omala APC Campaign flag off Amazes me .
By ATABOR JULIUS
The Omala APC Local Government Council polls’ flag off may have come and gone, but, the experience will continue to linger in my memory for long. The event may not have meant anything epochally significant to onlookers, however, for me, it portrayed a shifts for a desired coherent and determined people.
A shift from divisive tendencies to an absolute coherence. A shift to unification. A shift to Omala mantra. A burial of political blocks to egalitarianism. A shift to the people as lait motif for Omala growth and development.
The gathering has once again reinvented what Omala used to be- the people of common purpose and destination, devoid of an individual taking the glory. Omala whose collective decisions subsumed that of individual or groups of individuals.
The meeting signpost the Omala spirit. The meeting killed the affront of affiliations, and brought out who we were that had made us tick in the comity of kogi state and by extension kogi East.
Why was I amazed , you will ask. The celebrator, Marknoble, on whose insight the creme de la creme were gathered, may be relatively unaware of the time of Omala’s solidity. Even if he was aware , it would have been largely a story being told . Alas, destiny has played a fast one on him. His election has regurgitated the once boisterous Omalaness. Omala that picks a candidate and all would queue behind. Omala that abhor tirades and contradiction and political brigandage.
The APC flag off yesterday extinguished acrimony and brought every one together. For the hindsight, many attendees would have had a bitter tales , if it was to be in some years past. The blocks would have labelled them outcasts. But the new Omala has made all a saint.
From the podium to the reserve seats and to the overflow, every one was in one family and banters flowed freely. I could see brilliantly what Omala will soon become. From the four zones of the LG, the song was Marknoble. On the streets, to restaurants and joints , people freely exchanged pleasantry. Despite, the harsh economic realities, people travelled from far and near, not minding the leakages of their pockets. They were enthusiastic. Nobody was induced to attend. It was a flaming display of love and a return to envisaged glory of our founding fathers. There was no cluster, it was only unification. The message was clear, the Omala has realised it’s potential, the potential of unity. The Omala that will rewrite its name and pedigree. Omala that was noted for being there for one another. An Omala that held high hopes for greatness and development. An Omala that will lift her people
I see an Omala under the leadership of Marknoble , a selfless service and sacrifice to unlock our God endowed potentials. An Omala that no one takes blame or the glory , but the collectivism.
From the texture of the gathering, I was convinced that Omala has rediscovered itself- the discovery that, the people is the centerpiece. From speaker to speakers, it was clear , that a monolithic Omala is achievable. The Omala that will develop a culture of community helps. A people known to ignite and discover the latent potentials of the indigents. I see a future where the name of Omala shall be the signature tune of all the people. An Omala that everyone would belong to one family. No distinction of zones, class status or political affiliations. And with Marknoble the die is cast.
In a heartwarming speech , the incoming chairman has these to say “My aspiration to lead is driven by the urgent need to fix our local economy and improve the quality of life for our people.I am fully aware of the security challenges facing parts of Omala, but I am resolute in my determination to address these issues head-on. My previous experience in office helped pave the way for the relative peace we now enjoy, and with renewed efforts, we will restore the troubled areas, fully revive the Bagana market, and foster economic growth.
“We are already convinced that the governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is a leader who is committed to the overall development of Kogi State. We will follow his footsteps and also consider the peculiar challenges of Omala LGA in all our decisions for rapid growth and development.
“We will leverage on state government programs to boost food sufficiency, provide credit facilities to farmers, and promote organized and cluster farming initiatives. We shall open our doors to investors, and also focus on job creation for the youth to reduce unemployment and curb social vices.
” Education, Healthcare delivery; Rural development, workers and people’s welfare shall be the thematic consideration of his administration.
However, to him that much is given, much is expected and from the fall out of his few months in office as caretaker chairman, he stands tall to make Omala great.
