TheCable

Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state has renamed the Kogi State University, Ayangba , after the late Abubakar Audu, who was the first civilian governor of the state.

Audu established the university in 2001 and named it after himself, but Ibrahim Idris, his successor, changed the name to Kogi State University in 2004.

However, Bello announced the change in the name of the 15- year-old university during a statewide broadcast to mark his victory at the state governorship election petition tribunal.

Justifying his decision to restore the university to its original name, Bello said Audu laid a solid foundation for the growth and development of the state

Bello also promised that a blueprint of his administration, which will kick start creation of one million jobs for the unemployed youths will be unveiled by next week

“Today, and as always, I celebrate the life and times of Prince Abubakar Audu, the first Executive Governor of Kogi atate,” he said.

“It is our hope that those who want to lay claim to his legacy will at least develop the same heart for the growth and development of Kogi State that he demonstrated through his lifetime.”

According to the governor, an executive bill will soon be forwarded to the house of assembly to formalise the change in the name of the university.

Audu was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the November 21, 2015 governorship election in the state. He died suddenly a day after, before the result of the election was announced.

The leadership of the APC subsequently substituted Audu with Bello as the candidate in the supplementary governorship election held on December 5, 2015.

The governor also used the broadcast to thank the people of the state for their support and understanding since his assumption of office in January .

He said since the five petitions filed against him had been thrown out for lack of merit, the state was now set to witness a new direction and accelerated development.

He called on all those who lost at the tribunal to join hands with him to develop the state, saying “there was no victor, no vanquish”.