The miracles of Kogi Government thus far, under the leadership of young and amiable hard working maverick Governor Ododo Ahmed Usman (OAU) is one hitting even the core of the oppositions with drums of joy, as they see a significant milestone being covered by the product of, one of APC’s National Leader and immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Adoza Bello CON, striking the roof of progress with every tick of the seconds, as their legs involuntarily responds to the rhythm of wow! they echo in sweet melodies too quick before knowing they are joining in celebrating Ododo, well, who does not like what is good!
If a Prophet, they respects so much, had told them, these things they see today, will come to pass even in next six (6) years, am sure they will not only say NO, they will derive such Prophet and declared him dishonourable, but at last it’s here right in our own time in just a flick, before we rose from the bed of the mother of all elections of November 11th , 2023, the man whose name ODODO, indicates FLOWER in all the basic major tribes in Kogi State, is actually spreading as good one, leaving the lovely fragrancescent of positivity everywhere you go in Kogi State and laundering effortlessly, the supposed image of the state to the amazement of even the media!
This vibrant man, brought onboard by FGYB, is no doubt, a blow of growth, waiting to explode to success all the while, having learnt the art of the game from his boss, he, no doubt is a goal getter, who has decided to build on the stability hard-fought and won for a UNITED KOGI STATE (UKS), these battles no doubt won former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello CON, the lovely christnening of “father of New Kogi”, where anyone can become a governor irrespective of your tribe, colour or linage. Thank you Adoza.
I wish, I have to go on, and on, but I soon realized that, lines and time aren’t really friends, and as such, I want to at this juncture, put pressing iron to the cloths being sown by OAU thus far.
Knowing fully well, the import and necessity of safety, Governor Ododo struck first at the door of SECURITY, a nagging issue nationally if not globally, by engaging the locos, (vigilantes) and uniting them with the State Security apparatus of Government, not excluding the Nigeria Army, these he backed with mobilities of all shades, equipment and motivation in term of improved payment, running costs, and today the results are unfolding and everyone that has soemthing to do with Kogi State, are proud of this feet, knowing that Kogi is a great connect to the east, south, west and north, bordering almost nine (9) states. We are all now hopeful that, an absolutely safe haven knocks.
Ododo went ahead to grab the neck of frustrating salary issues, which has being dancing on a leg for a while in the state, not excluding the Local Government Areas (owed) arrears, supposed low payments and he, went as far as approving minimum wage of seventy two thousand naira (N72,000) only per month in the state of confluence, wait! this man, now started early payment of salaries in the anal of the history of the over three decades (30) years state.
Today in Kogi State, Civil servants no longer grumble over delayed salary payment and even poor salary, referred to in Yoruba palace as sa lari while, the albatross of huge debt of owed salary is being pruned down daily.
The humongous debt profile of the state was brutally hacked down from N140b+ to about N40b, as we read (9th of February, 2025) with the axe of judiciousness and responsive Governance. If you think Ododo is joking, “you might need to do a visit to the state and come back in applause, as your review the stories, I am reviewing here, as one of “realities of the wonders of the wonder boy”, seriously, I can still spare you my last penny, to do the trip as am sure you will double it when you have come back, with the magic of Nija bet.
Kogi’s centrality and nearness to Abuja the nation’s capital, also triggered the deep fingering into the states 32 years plan by FGYB, and Ododo spotted a need to drive a befitting International Market, which he has indeed commenced, and according to the astute professional Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Development in Kogi State, Alhaji Chief Mukadam Ashiwaju Ashiru Idris FCA, the money is already on ground, but time is guiding the expenditure towards it’s completion, which he said, by God’s grace, will be delivered come 2026.
Not, stoping, Ododo is also known to have budgeted for purchase of 60 additional vehicles and agricultural implements to aid farming come 2025 season, he has created a Ministry shadowed with basically livestock responsibilities and on his way to ensuring bumper harvest in the state, even as the state targets to double it’s IGR from N3b to N6b, without hurting the masses, pushing for a progressive tax system with human face, that will widen the net and culture willing participations.
Let me see where next to touch, as Ododo’s works are clamouring for attentions within these limited lines, oh! Ok, let us dive to education, where Ododo has gone back to the very basis and foundation of learning, to him, the foundation matters and must be solid.
Recently the Governor doled out about N600m to cater for the payment of over 72,000 pupils in Primary school for their Common Entrance Examination fees, imagine! This is couped with the constructive noticeable effort of the untiring Honourable Commissioner for Education, Honourable Wemimo Jones, who now, even had to attend classes with the students in a guerrilla style (no notice) putting even the teachers on their toes across the state. Here you see promtness, discipline and tenacity of quality being exerted.
The same Government paid for SSSCE fees recently, continuing from where the immediate past Governor stopped, and now working hard to improve the total quality of education in the schools with the encouragement to both teaching and none teaching staffers, and raising the bar on teaching methodologies.
Higher institutions in the state are also enjoying Government attention with facilities’ upgrades and partnership, not excluding the Federal University in Lokoja.
While I do not want to talk about the largesse to the now questionable proliferated Students Union bodies, not Government anymore, as they have surrendered their genuinebsovereignty to Politicians! and down to tribal lines activists pretending as student leaders.
I must not fail to mention the Governor’s ressurectuon of the bursary scheme and it’s innovation, meeting the realities of these days, when I hear that, Law Students got as much as 300k as bursary, that indeed is a plus and remarkable departure from the peanuts of the past.
I however, wish that, Ododo Government could help us return the Students’ Union Government back to its days of honour, glories and away from the one that lines up at Government houses and parades the corridors of powers for one favour or the other at the expense of genuine education which blends characters with certificates.
His works on road are beginning to reflect as the state has approved reconstruction and maintenance of some roads, going to almost 14 across the state and the ones in the state capital Lokoja are already wearing good new looks.
Fortunately too, the Federal Government is throwing her weight behind the state, with the flyover/bye pass at Kabba Okene junction at the exit/ entry of the Lokoja end, to ease the satanic-traffic and logjam which characterizes the then dungeon looking axis.
The Civil Service is also wearing a new look, as his reforms with trainings and repositioning are paying off, with the emergence of experts at work with the state, Consultants inroad, team work is being introduced to the system and tidying up on accuracy, analytics and modern tools’ applications to taking critical decisions. All these, will ultimately throw up the quality of service delivery and shapens government to international best practices in no long time from now.
The leadership of Ododo is tendering the heart of love in the state, like wild fire from a source of sources, which puts his potential for continuity on a sure, steady and huge pedestal success come 2027, if indeed, in less than a year, he has done what the famous Napoleon could didn’t remember to do.
We can but encourage the “flower boy” as he is being popularly called to please rejig his cabinet and inject more valuable hands that can drive at his own velocity, speed and accuracy for the state to witness more, his intentions are clear and no doubt worthy of embracing for anyone who also care about his or her people.
The Governor should realize that, earlier than expected, the drums for 2027 are already being rolled out by unnecessary baseless crititism from failed tribal oppositions who couldn’t resist the pressure of the success of Ododo, and people’s admiration for his admirable and noticeable touching works to humanity, so their unheardable cockroach voices, which could not ganner the needed pitch are beginning to trickle in more, which is a pointer to the fact that, the Governor should know now that, some offices needs highly wired industrial experts with people’s backing from the grass root to manage the coming gap and presently unnoticed gaps; and not necessarily keeping in offices, those who are eating fat, almost losing their necks and still shouting ontop.of their voices, that they are not politician.
The need for tactically repositioning of the government administratively in driving the necessary line between governance, politicians and the governed (of course the voters), is now. I do not want to join the cry at the one (1) year event venue in the canopy tent, which came so low to Ododo standard when people’s comfort were badly impinge on.
No doubt, mobilization for Ododo in 2027 will be thick as his works are speaking ontop of the mountains and in the hearts of the good people of Kogi State, from Agba na gu East, to Okun Omo West and of course his home base Otam Central.
May he, ODODO receive the grace and magnificent Godly power not to derail, may the pretenders within and without not succeed, and may the people continue to enjoy his works and may Kogi’s connection to good governance not be cut short/ truncated by anything ( apologies to an author in connected trinity ): in Jesus mighty name, Mohammed SAW name and of course lfa Olokun, asoro dayo, eleri Ayo, you can add yours.
– Dayo ONIBIYO writes from Lokoja.
