Dino Melaye Promises Birth of a New Lokoja in 4 Years 

By Adeke Chukwuka

Senator Dino Melaye, the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Kogi governorship, has committed to rebuilding the state within a four-year term if elected, expressing this commitment during the party’s final campaign rally in Lokoja on Thursday.

Senator Dino Melaye vows to transform Lokoja into a new city within a four-year term if elected as governor. Emphasizing Kogi’s strategic importance and abundant mineral resources, he pledges to harness uranium, titanium, lithium, gold, and crude oil, aiming to tap into and develop these resources for commercialization.

“In four years, we are going to build the new Lokoja. York was in existence before New York came to be. Zealand was there before New Zealand came. Delhi was there before New Delhi came,” said Mr Melaye.

The PDP gubernatorial standard-bearer added, “So by the grace of God, if you voted me in as governor, in 4 years, we are going to build a new Lokoja. Kogi is a strategic state. It is the richest state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are blessed with mineral resources from uranium to titanium, lithium to gold, and crude oil.

“It’s unfortunate that the only mineral that has been tapped out of all these numerous resources is limestone. We are going to tap the rest. We will explore them. We will develop them. We will commercialize them. We will distribute them. And we will improve our IGR for the development of the state and a better standard of living.”

Melaye, citing his training under former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, pledges to distribute resources for the enhancement of the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) to foster state development and improve living standards.

The PDP candidate asserted that he is the most educated, experienced, and exposed among the 18 candidates in the election, urging residents to cast massive votes for him. Atiku, supporting Melaye, described him as the most qualified leader to rescue Kogi from poverty.

Atiku urged the people of Kogi to unite behind Melaye, emphasizing that their votes on Saturday could serve as a catalyst for liberating the state from the perceived detrimental APC administration of Governor Yahaya Bello.