By Inalegwu Shaibu

ABUJA— SENATORS Smart Adeyemi, Kogi West, and Otaru Ohaize, Kogi Central, have condemned the attempt by the State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris to site the proposed Kogi refinery in Itobe, Kogi East, instead of Lokoja as approved by the Federal Government.

The Senators while condemning the attempt, weekend, called on the Federal Government to stop the state governor from locating the refinery in his district to avert possible crisis within the ethnic groups in the state.

Senator Smart expressing his opposition said, “in order to address the issue of the location of the proposed refinery, the Federal Government set up a committee to consider a suitable place for the location of the project.

“The committee came up with a report that the refinery be sited in Lokoja, Kogi West Senatorial District along Ajaokuta Steel Company road in Kogi Central Senatorial District.

“The report also suggested that the refinery be sited in a place not too far from the growing Federal Capital Territory and Geregu Power Station in order to guarantee regular power supply to the refinery.

“In line with this development, discussions have already started on the need to build the refinery close to Ajaokuta, since the place is serviced with a rail line which is used to feed the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

“It is rather unfortunate to note that as this effort is going on, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris granted a certificate of occupancy on a vast area of land in Itobe, Ofu local government area of the state for the building of the refinery. He equally took the investors to the place for inspection.

“We want to say that what the Governor has done in taking the proposed refinery to his senatorial district is to further polarize the people of the three senatorial districts and cause a serious disaffection between the various ethnic groups in the state.”