The Kogi State House of Assembly has issued one-week ultimatum to Association of Miners in order to resolve their rifts within their members in Ankpa and other affiliate unions in the State.
The ultimatum was given by the
Chairman, House Committee on public petitions, Hon. Paul Enema gave the ultimatum when the Kogi State Chairman, Association of Miners, Oruma Yunusa and other key stakeholders appeared before the lawmakers over alleged arms and ammunition hoarding by Chinese Nationals in Agumagu, one of the mining sites in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Enema disclosed that the ultimatum will enable the aggrieved parties come together and work for the interest of the state.
The lawmaker, who is the current Deputy Speaker and member representing Dekina/Okura State Constituency, stated that it was disheartening and very worrisome to learn that some group of individuals were stockpiling arms and ammunition to undermine the peace in Kogi State.
He vowed that this will not be tolerated by the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, noting that the house will probe the matter to a logical conclusion.
Admonishing that no citizen of Kogi State should take laws into their hands, the lawmaker enjoined the aggrieved parties to sheath their sword by adopting peace for the interest of the state.
“The basis of the petition was arms and ammunition hoarding in the coal business of Ankpa Local Government. That was why we invited the Chairman of the Local Government who later gave us his report that there was nothing of such.
“The companies they are accusing came here to testify that they had nothing to do with arms and ammunition and their Chinese partner that the petitioner is also accusing, from our preliminary investigation, the house gathered that they are a reputable international company.
“Having heard from the Chairman Kogi State Association of Miners that we should give them the grace of one week so that he can put his house in order, the house is expecting him to come back in one week with the progress report.
“Like the Executive Chairman did say, we can call the Divisional Police Officer of Ankpa Local Government, Area Commander, Chief of Agumagu to ask if there was such. We are waiting for the Chairman to report back to the house for his findings. There will be resolution at the end of the day before necessary actions are taken.
The lawmaker representing Ankpa I State Constituency, Hon. Lawal Akus also opined that the allegations of hoarding arms and ammunition was weighty and should not be taken with levity.
“We have given them the ample opportunity for all the parties to go and discuss, in a bid to resolve the issue. We feel it is the responsibility of lawmakers to look into the allegations that were raised and come up with peaceful resolutions before we can take further action.
“Ankpa is very calm and peaceful. There is no tension as widely speculated. What we heard today is that the Chinese people mining in Ankpa is depriving the indigenous people of access to the market.
“We feel that it is something that the union people can resolve with the Chinese people by looking at the problem holistically with the aim of putting an end to the dispute.
“If they can’t resolve it among themselves, the house will wade in through the State apparatus and set whatever condition that we think will be beneficial to the people of Ankpa Local Government and the State at large,” he stated.
The Kogi State House of Assembly had received a petition from a group of Concerned Citizens of Kogi, who condemned the threat to lives and property at mining sites in Ankpa Local Government Area of the State.
