Governor Yahaya Bello

By Richard Elesho/ Lokoja

The popele of Kogi are in a desperate battle against hunger. Following reported attempts by thugs to prevent bags of rice and other food items donated by kind hearted members of the National. Assembly, from entering the state, the Movement For the Emancipation of Kogi People, MEKP, a new socio-cultural group has raised its voice against the sabotage. The group wondered why anybody should block the delivery of relief materials to the Hungary and striking civil servants in the State.

MEKP in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Asipita and Secretary, Mr Bodunrin Olufemi, on Sunday described the action of the youths as devilish and misguided.

“It is shameful for paid jobless youths to carry out such a disgraceful act of trying to prevent relief materials meant for the striking workers from entering the state,” it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some youths on Oct. 27 reportedly laid an ambush on Lokoja-Abuja highway in an attempt to hijack bags of rice donated by some senators to the striking workers.

Also, a director in the State Teaching Service Commission, Edward Soje, who was owed about nine months salary, had committed suicide by hanging on a tree in Lokoja, the state capital about two weeks ago.

The group expressed concern over alleged refusal of the state government to enter into dialogue with the organized Labour over the ongoing industrial dispute, saying “it is very disturbing.”

The group commended the senators and other well-meaning Nigerians within and outside the state for coming to the aid of the workers by donating bags of rice and other relief materials to them.

It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the crisis between workers and the state government without further delay.

It appealed to the organized labour and the striking workers to consider the “poor masses who have been at the receiving end of the month-long strike by making themselves available for dialogue anytime the government is ready.”