I’ll legislate to ensure Ajaokuta Steel Coy is revamped – Sen. Ohere

Sen. Abubakar Ohere (APC-Kogi) has pledged to come up with legislation that would ensure the revamping of Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi.

This, he said, was to ensure job creation and economic development in the state and country at large.

He said this at a reception held in Abuja on Thursday to celebrate his inauguration as senator in the 10th Assembly.

“We are going to deploy the usefulness of that office to the benefit of Ebira Land and Kogi Central in particular, which gave me the trust.”

Ohere, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, said that the rehabilitation of the company required everybody’s attention.

He said that Governor Yahaya Bello had helped secure, to a certain level, the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company.

“You all know what happened in the last few months; it was programmed for concession without due process.

“But it took the intervention of our traditional rulers, the Ministry of Local Government, and indeed our governor through the instrumentality of the judiciary to stop that reckless transaction.

“The company will form part of our focus in the National Assembly,” Ohere said.

He also said that in carrying out his legislative assignment, jobs would be rolled out for over 60 graduates in the next six months.

“These graduates are going to represent me as legislative assistants in the 57 wards of Kogi Central. This employment is coming up immediately,” he said.

He appreciated Bello's confidence in him and promised to pay attention to the water supply.

“In the provision of water, we still have some gaps to capture, and this gap that we have to capture will be my focus and immediate attention in terms of legislation.

“We still have parts of Ebira Land that are in darkness and are not enjoying full measure of electricity.

“I also have the intention to do some level of constituency projects that will bring electricity to some of these communities,” Ohere said.

Speaking at the event, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Kogi, Mr. Momoh Obaro, described Ohere as a man of the people.

“He is capable. He has been through the civil service as a commissioner in Kogi.

“What we are expecting is quality representation. We expect him to put our issues on the front burner in the National Assembly.

Obaro, however, described the emergence of Sen. God’swill Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom), the Senate President, as a great feat.

He said that the process that produced Akpabio was democratic.

“I’m particularly happy with the speech about how he intends to work for Nigerians. I’m hopeful that that kind of commitment and promise are going to take place.

“Nigerians really need to be worked for. Right now, there are a lot of issues, and I’m sure he is quite endowed as a former governor.

“He is close to the grassroot. He has a better understanding of the issues and the suffering of the people. I’m very hopeful he is in a position to be able to address the issue of poverty.”

Also, former Clerk of the National Assembly Mohammed Omolori expressed optimism that Ohere would bring about quality representation for the people of Kogi Central.

“We are happy about it. He is someone who has been in public life. He has been tested and trusted too. It’s the beginning of a new dawn,” he said.