By Debo Alabi, Lokoja
Senator representing Kogi West Sunday Karimi, joined by the Elegbe of Egbe and Chairman, Yagba West Traditional Council, Oba Ayodele Irukera on Monday performed the laying of the foundation stone on which the proposed army barracks in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government, Kogi State, will be built.
Egbe is the boarder town between Kogi and Kwara states.
The mini military base when completed is expected to consist of a mini office, officers mess, two blocks of 3 bedroom flats for officers and other ranks and the armoury.
The idea of the project, according to the Emla of Ilemla community in Egbe, His Royal Highness, Oba Victor Timi Dada was conceived by the community and granted by the Army authorities, on condition that the community should provide a land for that purpose.
He further disclosed that the community leaders, through the instrumentality of Oba Irukera decided to seek the support of son-of-the-soil, Senator Karimi who promised to fund the barracks project from scratch to finish.
Speaking during the ceremony at the site located along Egbe-Eruku-Omuaran-Ilorin federal road, Senator Karimi who made an initial donation of N1m for the sinking of a borehole at the site said his decision to fund the project underscored the importance attached to security in the entire country at this time. He said the military base when completed, would not only boost security in the host community but also complement the efforts of the federal and Kogi State governments as well as neighburing states such as Kwara and Ekiti towards tackling the hydra headed security challenges that have gone beyond sectional concerns to the level of solutions finding based on people, policy and national enforcement dimensions.
He said, “Nigeria is faced with more security challenges today than ever in our history, such as Boko Haram, armed militancy, banditry, robbery, kidnapping for ransom and Fulani herders/farmers clashes. It is not peculiar to us here, it is everywhere and it affects the flow of trade and economic growth. Businesses cannot thrive where there is no security. Businesses can only move forward through the enthronement of a secured environment. By the grace of God, from start to finish, and without asking for contributions, consider this project (mini-military base) a done deal. Not because I think I have the money but because of my love for my community, the well being of my constituents in Kogi West and, Kogi State and national security”.
Karimi recalled that due to the incessant robberies, banks in Yagbaland had shut down operations in the area for years. He enthused that the presence of a military base would encourage the military top brass to increase the deployment of personnel to the area, while also serving as a tonic for the banks to have a change of heart and resume financial services to customers in Yagba.
Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Irukera commended Senator Karimi for the gesture, noting however that it was the lawmaker’s trademark to score firsts in the contributions to the development of the community. Specifically, the monarch recalled that Karimi’s contributions to the building of the ultra modern Egbe Central Palace was unmatched.
The ground breaking ceremony was witnessed by community, opinion and religious leaders, youth and women groups.
