From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
A Business Tycoon, Kingsley Idoko Ilona on Wednesday in Lokoja emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Alliance (APGA) for the November 11 Kogi state governorship election.
Kingsley, the former runner’s off of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary emerged APGA Candidate via a consensus voice vote held at SAATOF Hotel on Wednesday in Lokoja in replacement of the party’s earlier candidate, Abdullazeez Arokoya who voluntarily withdrew from the race.
Presenting the Party’s flag bearer, the Chairman Electoral Committee of the party, Ben Nweke said that the choice of Kingsley Ilona’s candidature was based on his track record of service to humanity.
Nweke pointed out that Kingsley Ilona’s success story and humanitarian seevices will surely market APGA towards taking Kogi state to enviable position if given the opportunity.
The Chairman assured that Kogi stae under APGA will be greater and witness unprecedented accelerated development in the years ahead.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ilona promised to focus on improving the revenue generating capacity of the state to enable it tackle poverty and underdevelopment in Kogi state.
The APGA flag bearer pointed out that Ibaji local government is naturally blessed with fertile land, natural resources and the only oil producing local government in the state which if given the desired attention with good road networks, Kogi will not depend on Federal allocation for survival.
He pointed out that rice, sugarcane, yams and other food crops production in Ibaji area and other resources in some local government areas will except Kogi state from depending on federal allocation.
Mr. Ilona stressed that Priority attention would be given to the agricultural and Industrialization of the state to boost revenue generation of the state and tackle unemployment in the state.
The APGA flag bearer disclosed that there is no nation that can survive without education adding that Priority attention would be given to education sector to enable Kogi compete favourably in capacity building with other states of the Federation.
“My prayer is that out of about 18 of us from different political parties jostling for the Lugard House, God should give to the best person that can entrench good governance in Kogi state and I promised to join hands with the person to make Kogi great.”
