GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has reiterated his commitment to the completion of 21 ongoing road projects across the state in the next four years.

He made the commitment during the official presentation of a Second Class Staff of Office to the 7th Emir of Yashikira, in Baruten Local Government Area, Alhaji Usman Umaru Sariki, Sabi Kpassi II, in his palace at the weekend.

The governor also said that approval had equally been given for the construction of 374 km. of rural roads across the 16 local government areas of the state, while government intended to construct 20 comprehensive health centres this year to achieve the 500 meter radius access to qualitative healthcare delivery policy thrust of his administration.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony which attracted a large crowd, Alhaji Ahmed enjoined the new Emir to be magnanimous in victory and be fair to all his subjects, including those who contested the stool with him.

Ahmed, who expressed his administration’s determination to strengthen the traditional institution, commended the people of Yashikira for avoiding rancour and following the path of dialogue and consensus in choosing the new Emir.

"It is expedient to remind us all that power belongs to Allah who confers it on whom He pleases as a trust to be exercised judiciously. I, therefore, want to appeal to the new Emir to consider his position as that of a father to all in Yashikira Emirate", the governor said.

While thanking other royal fathers in the state for the support accorded his administration since inception, he assured them that the traditional institution would be accorded due recognition and support in the collective drive to move the state forward.

He charged the monarchs to continue to maintain peace, law and order in their various domains for development to thrive, adding that they should imbibe the culture of dialogue and consultation in administering their subjects.

In his acceptance speech, the new Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Usman Umaru Sariki, who thanked the governor and Yashikira kingmakers for ensuring a crisis-free selection process, promised to make fairness and justice his watch word.

daughters of Yashikira to close ranks, believing that by forging a greater unity of purpose, they can together succeed in building a more united, vibrant and prosperous Emirate.

Alhaji Umaru Sariki, an alumnus of the University of Ilorin and University of Louvin, Belgium, was born in Yashikira in 1954 and until his new appointment as the Emir of Yashikira, was a retired Deputy Director at the National Population Commission (NPC).