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EXCITING PLACES TO VISIT IN KOGI STATE

Kogi state is regarded as the confluence state because it is home to where two great rivers meet (river Niger and river Benue). These 2 rivers feature prominently on Nigeria’s coal of arms. Kogi state is strategically located in the north central of Nigeria with lokoja as the state capital. It is bounded by 10 states, Kogi state holds the relics of colonialism makes it a tourist attraction. The following are exciting places to see in the stat:

1. CONFLUENCE RIVER The river Niger and river Benue are 2 of the largest rivers in west Africa, the 2 rivers meet at lokoja in west Africa, forming a y shaped structures, River Niger is brownish in color, while River Benue is light green in color. There are ferries, boats and cruise services available along the water side.

2. THE IRON OF LIBERTY This is a prominent tourist attraction in Kogi state which is the most significant left overs of slavery in the state. Research studies has it that any slave lays his/her hand on this iron regards their liberty of freedom. This is accommodated on a landed property owned by the holy trinity Anglican church lokoja. It is also said to the final resting place of bishop Ajayi Crowther.

3. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF COLONIA This houses the relics of Nigeria’s colonial history, displaying lord lugard’s relics; his properties and records of administration.

4. LATE ATTAH OF EBIRA’S PALACE This was the residence of the past Attah of Ebira, It is a modern and architecture wonder.

 5. THE STATUE OF INIKPE The statue was built in memory of Inikpe, the daughter of the first Attah of Igala king who was buried alive on the instruction of the oracle to restore peace to the land.

 6. MOUNT PATTI This is a massive hill towering lokoja, the confluence points of rivers Niger and Benue can be seen from the flat top.

NOTABLE MENTIONS

Confluence stadium, NYSC secreteriat, Lounge 1, The palace of the ruler of Kabba.

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Regional and global implications of Russia’s annexation of Crimea

The Crimea peninsula was a semi-autonomous state with affiliations to both Russia and Ukraine, ownership of Crimea and its sovereignty has bounced back and forth, it was part of the ottoman empire before it was ceded to russia in 1783 during Catherine the great’s reign, the Russian forces of queen Catherine had defeated the armies of the Ottoman empire in the russian-turkish war, further down the road, it was made an autonomous state within the then soviet union during the russian revolution. In 1954, Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian government by Nikita Khrushchev the then secretary to the Soviet Union’s Communist party. Reasons for doing so were not implicitly stated but many people were of the notion that it was a ploy to appease the Ukrainian arm of the Soviet Union communist party. This transfer was met with dissatisfaction by native Russians residents in Crimea since its population is majorly russians with crimea tartas and Ukrainian minorities. Since its absorption from the Ottoman Empire, Crimea served as an important navy base for Russian, the city of Sevastopol in Crimea housed the black sea fleet of the then soviet union and also as an important battle ground for the Russian navy. Crimea was the site of integration of orthodox Christianity into Russia hence Crimea and Sevastopol held very important political and sentimental value to the Russians. When the soviet union fell, Crimea remained under Kyiv administration. Until early 2014 when tensions rose as a result of the Ukrainian president Viktor yanukovich’s refusal to sign Ukraine into the EU, he was ousted and Ukraine fell into political turmoil. With the breakdown of order, Russian troops stepped into Crimea and weeks later a highly disputed referendum was held wherein about 95% of crimeans voted to join Russian, the annexation of Crimea was announced by Putin citing Crimea’s right to self determination as the basis for the takeover. While local support was high, this action by Putin has been frowned upon by both the US and other States.

The annexing of Crimea and the city of sevastopol by Russia has had a lot of impact on both Russia, Ukraine and Crimea.

IMPACT ON RUSSIA

The major implications

Annexing Crimea for Russia was an expensive venture. This venture has cost Russia billions of dollars. The cost of mobilization of troops and logistics inclusive. Taking over Crimea meant that Russia  inherited the burden of paying workers wages and pension benefits of Crimea citizens, there was also the issue of upgrading Crimea’s salary structure to reflect its new status as a russian state and with Crimea having a population of about 2 million with about 26% retirees and another 20% of its population as state workers this cost. Crimea is vastly dependent on Ukraine for power and water with most of the power plants and water canals supplying Crimea situated in ukraine, in a bid to cut crimea  ties with Ukraine and reduce her dependence, russia has had to build power plants in Crimea, Russia had to resize the budgets for other regions in order to meet up with these costs. With Crimea being a peninsula that has no geographical connection with russia, a bridge was built over the Kerch Strait connecting Crimea and Russia together Russia (the crimean bridge),there is also the issue of border control and currency change,  in summary a lot of money will be spent to upgrade crimea to russia’s specification. Crimea annexation is not without benefits to russia, she stands to gain because by taking Crimea and Sevastopol the money remunerated by Russia to Ukraine for use of Sevastopol as a base of Russia naval fleet will cease, this money is about a 100 million dollars(Tadeusz A. Olszański, 2014)  Also the Crimea peninsula being strategically located, has given moscow’s military an edgein both the Mediterranean region and the Black Sea. Tensions between russia and ukraine are at all time high, russia acting rashly has gone against the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership that existed between both parties, this has several ramifications ; ukraine has decided not to renew the treaty and has proposed to declare war on russia as soon as the present treaty expires

The actions of Russia in crimea has soiled her international image. Russia to the wider world is now seen as a predatory imperialist, and a power grabber ready to pounce on any available and weakened region within its borders without a single regard for the implications. The UN has condemned the annexation of crimea and Russia faces sanctions from both UN and the EU. Also several restrictions have been placed on russia, the G8 (now G7) has suspended russia from all its activities, russia has lost all voting rights in the council of Europe although Russia has responded by boycotting and cutting off their financial contribution to the council. Some russian citizen with ties to crimea have been refused visas in the US and Canada, also Japan has suspended talks with Russian in light of the crimea situation. There has also been a call for a boycott of Russian oil and gas with other EU countries seeking alternatives to russia’s oil.

IMPACT ON UKRAINE

For ukraine , the loss of the crimean peninsula has been colossal, it came at a time when Ukraine was undergoing a difficult transition in government and hence couldn’t withstand russia. It had to call out to the west for help

Losing crimea has left ukraine with reduced military strength with its navy admiral defecting to Russian and its naval ships seized by russia

There also exist on crimea, local ukrainian energy and mining industries which have been lost to the russians, Ukraine’s bid to explore the black sea shelf for hydrocarbons has also be set back due to the region being under russia’s control. Russia has also reduced its involvement in Ukraine’s foreign trade

The loss of Crimea has dented ukraine’s nationalism and sovereignty it has weaken the national identity and created  divisions between members of ukraine and russia. the state’s loss of control over part of its territory and population renders ukraine a weak sovereign state without means of protecting its sovereignty, this has gone a long way in hampering its international image, its parliamentary house is now left with 423 seats as against 450 due to the exclusion of crimea parliamentarians. Ukraine seeks an outright war but a war with Russia who is

 IMPACT ON CRIMEA

Since its annexation, a large population of crimea tartas have moved away from crimea due to the political unrest, the others who have remained have been subjected to harsh conditions by the much significant russian populace, they are seen ukrainian loyalists, this has the effect of reduced workforce. Also annexation has left crimea  with fresh problems such as how to reestablish relations with ukraine seeing that the peninsula greatly relies on ukraine for water and power although Ukraine will be hesitant to sever all services provided to crimea because do so will be in violation of its duty as a sovereign head to provide for its ____ .there is also the issue of banks present in crimea but with headquarters in Ukraine being affected as there is a change in the currency from ukrainian hryvnia to russian ruble

In addition to civic unrest, Crimea as a tourist site with tourist pouring in mostly from ukraine has seen a marked reduction in tourist due to its status as a disputed site and ukraine’s ongoing strife with moscow, its people are now seen by the Ukrainians as backstabbers who traded nationalism for regionalism.

From russia’s standpoint the annexation is but a step in the revival of russia to its pre soviet glory, while ukraine is incensed at russia’s apparent lack of dignity and use of underhand tactics to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, other former soviet union republics are watching with care at Russia’s expansion quest and may seek assistance from the west.  With Ukraine’s growing relationship  and Russia’s continued alienation from the west, the stage has been set for a blown out war

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