Kogi state Members of the State Assembly, and by extension lawmakers across the state , have been under scrutiny lately with regard to their engagements with citizen-voters whose interest they are expected to represent in parliament regarding constituency issue, in Ankpa, Hon Ahmed Ahmed representing Ankpa 1 in the state Assembly today has differentiate himself from the group of members who have nothing to show by building a house for special people of his own constituency:
Below is the unedited speech of the lawmaker.
SPEECH DELIVERED BY RT. HONORABLE AHMED MOHAMED, DEPUTY SPEAKER KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND MEMBER REPRESENTING ANKPA 1 CONSTITUENCY AT OFFICIAL OPENING/HANDING OVER OF KEYS OF HOUSE BUILT FOR SPECIAL PERSONS IN ANKPA LGA OF KOGI STATE
Yesterday Sunday 4th April, 2021
Protocols;
It gives gives me great joy as I stand in the midst of this special People who are often seen very negatively from the society whereas nature made them to be so. People with disability are often faced with stigma, discrimination and most times deny access to basic services such as public and social interactions, access to public health, Etc.
Some of the leaders at the handing over ceremony of constituency project
One of my major task as the people’s representative was to see how people with disability are inducted into societal activities with equal rights, and privileges, and one significant step was the introduction of a Bill for a law to Establish the Disability Office, Guarantee and protect the rights of persons living with Disability, and other matters connected therewith on Wednesday 12th December, 2018. The bill received huge support from the wife of his Excellency the Governor who also brought a similar bill which was harmonized, passed into law and signed by the young and energetic Governor, Alh Yahaya Bello. This has placed Kogi State among the nine states in the Federation to have enacted disability laws to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and also broken the jinx of putting the state above other North central states.
Hon Muritala Yakubu Personal assistant to the Executive Govenor of Yobe State and Hon Ahmed Ahmed at the event
In Ankpa LGA, these special people have lived with us since inception but in an isolated, dilapidated and unhygienic environment. Many thanks to the Sarkin Hausawa who has always been the one soldier always checking, listening and taking care of them. The desire to carry out this project was born out of my love, these people and the need to make them feel special and understand that they are part of us. I see it as an act of God and I want to assure the disabled community in Ankpa LGA and KOGI state that as a stakeholder who is concerned about your well-being, I will continue to liaise with both the government at all levels, international donor agencies and NGOs to draw your attention to them. We must make use of every opportunity to bring governance to all, this is a promise I have made and oath I have sworn to serve you.
Hon Ahmed Ahmed, with Olamaboro local government chairman and Hon John Aduga former Ankpa local government caretaker chairman at the event
In appreciation of the enormous support of his Excellency the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who has shown full commitment to the inclusion of people with disability into the society, we deem it fit to name this house after a woman of blessed memory, who carried every children as his own, who nurtured a man to become a leader, with wisdom, discipline and love. The mother of our our Governor, Late Hajiya NANAHAUWAU OZIOHU BELLO of blessed memory. May Allah Grant her soul eternal rest.
I want to end this speech by specially thanking his Excellency the Governor, the Deputy Governor Chief Edward David Onoja, the Chief of Staff Pharm Asuku Abdulkareem Jamiu, members of the Kogi State Executive council, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Barrister Abdulsalami Ozigi Deedat, The Local Government Auditor General, the Chairman of Ankpa LGA Hon. Ibrahim Abagwu, Local Government elected council members, appointees, traditional rulers, religious leaders, Dr MK Ibrahim provost College of Education Ankpa, Dr. Usman Salisu Ogbo Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, my loving and supportive wife, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, Dr. Jemila Alfa Mohammed (FCNA, FIMC, NIM) Head of finance and accounts, Bioresources Development Centre Bauchi, all the women and youth groups, Action aid Nigeria ably represented by the Kogi state focal person, and well wishes who has In one way or the other contributed to the success of our projects, I say a big thank you and I wish to encourage you all to continue to extend your hands of love to this people as their reward is with God only.
I shall be handing over the keys to the Executive Chairman of Ankpa LGA who will therefore hand it over to the Sarkin Hausawa before presenting it to the occupants. I thank you all and I wish you safe trip back to your destination.
Thank you
