*Gov Idris on site of refinery

By Ben Agande & Inalegwu Shaibu

ABUJA — Lawmakers from Kogi East in the National Assembly have accused Senators Smart Adeyemi, Kogi West and Otaru Ohize, Kogi Central of inciting the people of the state against Governor Ibrahim Idris for choosing Itobe, as location for the proposed Kogi refinery.

The lawmakers led by Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Kogi East, at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, kicked against the oppositions mounted by Senators Smart and Ohize, arguing that Itobe meets the requirements needed for setting up of the refinery.

Ugbane flanked by Messrs Atai Aidoko, James Idachaba and Ihiabe Abdul all from Kogi East said that the claims of marginalisation by Smart and Ohise are unfounded and selfishly motivated, stressing that the governor did not act out of sentiment by choosing Itobe, knowing fully well that Kogi East is the least undeveloped in the state in terms of industries.

He said, “The protest of the choice of location for the establishment of the Kogi refinery is targeted at misinforming Nigerians. The approved site by the state government is a twin sister town to Ajaokuta with River Niger separating them but linked by a bridge and rail link.

“In terms of proximity, Itobe is closer to Kogi Central than Kogi East, in summary, it is the border town that divides the two senatorial districts. If sentiments had been taken into account by Kogi State government, the project would have been sited in the heartland of Kogi East Senatorial District.”

Explaining that only Itobe met the requirements for the establishment of the refinery, Senator Ugbane quoted a letter from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, thus, “In a letter dated 18th June, 2010, written to Kogi State Government by the NNPC, the technical and economic viability criteria for establishment of the refinery were clearly stated”.