From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A frontline aspirant of the All Progressives Party (APC) for the November 16 Kogi State governorship election, Prince Mona-Mustapha Audu, has promised to work towards the emancipation of the Confluence State from poverty , other economic deprivations and social injustice.
Audu made the promise on Sunday in Lokoja, the state’s capital when he kick- started his campaign for the Lugard House.
The son of late governor, Abubakar Audu promised to end the long sufferings of Kogi workers and other indigenes who have been languishing in poverty and want as a result of poverty and deprivations visited on them by an uncaring government that did not have the vision of his father.
“It pains me that this great state highly endowed continues to degenerate on all fronts. The state that provided Nigeria its first capital, the state that is so blessed by God has never witnessed poverty and suffering of its people on unprecedented scale being encountered by our people today. It pains me that civil servants continue to die helplessly as a result of mismanagement of our commonwealth. At the end of every darkness, there must be light at the end of the tunnel.
“My administration will stand for freedom. By the grace of God Almighty I will make this state great again.”
Audu promised to make the welfare of the youths and that of women his priority, saying he will enunciate programmes and policies that will create jobs for the teeming youths and women in the state if he gets the mandate of his people.
On women in particular, he promised to reserve 50 percent of his cabinet and other key appointments to them.
Speaking in a similar vein, his wife, Zahrah Mustapha Audu, explained that her husband’s campaign slogan: “Kogi 1st for All, Kogi for All: Mona de come” was borne out of the urgent need and desire “to heed to the call and tears of all our compatriots for the rescue of the state.”
Most importantly she said her husband will work tirelessly towards ensuring economic independence and prosperity for the state to enable it tackle the many challenges facing it.
