By TINA TIMOTHY

The Kogi East Coalition for Good Representation has called to question the performance of the senator representing Kogi East, Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho, subsequently putting on notice her intention to commence the Senator’s recall process.

The group, a non-partisan organization made up of business men, Captains of Industry, Civil Society and politicians committed to ensuring good representation amongst elected politicians within the Eastern flank of Kogi State, during an emergency meeting which took place on Monday, February 19, 2024 lamented that Echocho has neither impacted his people nor represented them favourably.

In a letter signed by its National Coordinator, Hon. Jibrin Obaje, the group said: “During an emergency meeting of the above named organization, the performance of one of our elected politicians by name Alhaji Jibrin Isah (Echocho) was called to question.

“Representation is about making impact and bringing succor to our people through sundry empowerment programmes, constituency projects and adequate representation on the floor of the Senate through by way of sponsoring bills that would favour infrastructural development within his constituency.

“Unfortunately, our representative has done neither of the above for the last 4,5 years as Senator. A few of the allegations against him by our people are as follows;

“Inaccessibility to his political base; efforts to reach out to him by his people has proved abortive.

“Near absence of youth empowerment programs in the zone.

“Lack of a robust and proactive representation on the floor of the Senate at the Federal level; basically, no bills have been sponsored by him that has made a direct or indirect bearing on his constituency.

“The inability to make a strong case for the revamping of Ajaokuta Steel Company since his election as a Senator.

“Near Absence of Constituency Projects.”

The group further decried that while the senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti, distributed rice to her people, from money approved for senators as palliatives, Jibrin did no such thing as “not even a grain of rice was seen in Kogi East!”

Continuing, Obaje wrote, “It will be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the sum of N57.8bn as palliatives for members of the National Assembly which translated to about N200m per Senator.

“It was sad however to note that while his counterpart, Senator Natasha Akpoti made a definite impact in her constituency by the distribution of trailer loads of rice, not even a grain of rice was seen in Kogi East!”

Consequently, the group said that sequel to the allegations of poor representation as well as “the outcry from our people”, they have decided to recall Senator Echocho.

“In view of the above and other allegations, and following the outcry from our people, this organization is putting on notice her intention to commence the recall process of Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho within one week of the date of this letter,” the group said.