BY MOYINOLUWA BAMIDELE-LUCAS
Dignitaries across the country, Saturday, stormed Takete-Ide community in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State to celebrate the cultural heritage of the ancient town and also raise funds for the development of the community.
The ceremony is an annual event to celebrate the culture of the town.
In his welcome address, the National President of the Takete-Ide Progressives Union, Richard Fiki, called on indigenes of the community to embrace unity for the development of Takete-Ide, calling on government to help rehabilitate the road leading to the community.
Also, a two-term House of Representatives member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, Sunday Karimi, pledged to continue to contribute to the progress of the community as he had always done in the past, referring to himself as a son of Takete-Ide.
The Lady Chairman of the occasion, Hajia Yemi Kolapo, thanked the community for the opportunity to chair the auspicious occasion.
She said the community was lucky to have produced a son like the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who is passionate about the development of his community.
While she contributed half a million naira to the development of the community, she noted that it could only take a super Governor like Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to discover a talent like Fanwo.
The Chairman of the occasion, Friday Idachaba, also donated N300, 000, while a bank chief, who does not want his name in print, also gave N500, 000.
Former spokesman of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, Segun Showunmi, congratulated the people of the community for producing a son like Fanwo, saying he was a star performer in his field.
Showunmi, who was honoured with a traditional wife at the event, also donated N250, 000 towards the development of the community, also the member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Teejay Yusuf.
The Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Youth and Students Affairs, Oludare Jibril, donated N100, 000.
Fanwo thanked participants for their love for the community while also dropping a donation of N1million.
Member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, Leke Abejide, who sent representatives, commissioned the borehole donated to the community ICT Centre.
The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs) Folashade Arike Ayoade.
She said the governor was committed to the reconstruction of the Owowo Bridge, an announcement that sparked ovation at the event.
She added that the state government was grateful to Takete Ide for always supporting the governor and for “donating Kingsley Fanwo” to the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
She said the community would witness more dividends of democracy in the governor’s second term as well as when the governor becomes the President of Nigeria in 2023.
In his own remarks, the Alamuro of Amuro, HRH Oba Alfred Modupe Ayedogbon, called on all Amuro people to support the administration of Bello, saying the governor had done so much for the people of Kogi State.
He urged the people to embrace peace and harmony.
The highlights of the event were cultural displays, peace talk and presentation of awards to deserving indigenes of the community. One of such recipients was David Atte, a globally renowned Development Geographer and community leader.
Other dignitaries at the event included Abayomi Medubi, Eric Fiki, and Bola Omoniwa, among
others.
