By correspondent in Lokoja.
Members of Ebira Avaibe Association, Lokoja, Kogi State,on Sunday, converged at Anebo housing estate, Lokoja to celebrate the inauguration of and prayed for Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the fourth democratically elected governor of kogi state.
Speaking as the chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Dawud Ahmed, commended the association for celebrating a worthy cause.
Ahmed, who expressed delight over the inauguration of Ododo, also expressed confidence in the ability of the new governor to consolidate on the achievements of former governor,Alhaji Yahaya Bello and surpass them in the governance of the state.
He called on the indigenes of Ebira extraction not to relent in their support and prayer for the success of Ododo administration.
Elder Oseni Abdulsalam, breaking kola at the occasion.
The elder ,who prayed in traditional way for the association, Ododo and Ebiraland generally, advised parents to train their children to the highest level of education and moral rectitude for them to become good leaders of tomorrow.
“When you train your children,by giving them the best education, they will excel in life and they will reciprocate your efforts in seeing them through in their educational pursuits by caring for you when you are in your old age,”,he told the parents.
The chairman, urged the ebiras to de-emphasize the concept of clan inclination in their socio-cultural, economic and political interaction, adding that they should see their different clannish leaning as a source of working in unison to forge ahead with the new administration in the state.
He commended the initiator of the association,Hon.Musa Akaba, for his thoughtful concept that led to its formation and called on the members to reciprocate Akaba’s call through more commitment towards the growth and development of the organization.
An elder of the association, Malam Usman Obansa, described the election of Ododo as not only base on quality of leadership in him, but that his electoral victory also demonstrated the love God has for the ebiras.
He called on the ebiras to translate God’s love for them to supporting the new administration to success and see themselves as one indivisible entity with common goal, irrespective of their differences to ensure increased presence of the state in Ebiraland.
In his remarks at the occasion,Hon. Musa Akaba, thanked members for heeding his call for the birth of the association, which comprises ebiras living from Imeme bridge,Gadumo quarters to 500 unit of Lokoja-Ganaja viccity.
He commended the immediate past governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for executing good quality projects for the state.
Hon.Akaba called on the members of the association to show more commitment towards realizing its aims and objectives which he said centres on issues of mutual interest and development of members and Ebiraland at large.
Mal.M.J Musa.
In his contribution,Mal.M.J Musa, traced the process and rich history of the Ebiras to Saudi Arabia to Wukari,Idoma,(Benue state) Ajaokuta, Itobe, Upkake up to the present day lOkene,Okengwe,Ihima in Kogi state and Etuno in Edo State.
Our correspondent reports that highlight of the occasion were Christian, Islamic and traditional prayers and breaking of kola nut for the success of the Ododo-led administration and continued peace in Ebiraland.
Members also had enough to eat while some took “take away” home.
One of the side attractions at the get together.
