Members of the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum has sought the support of Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfe, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu, for a united front across the senatorial district.
The leaders made this known during a courtesy visit to the Ohimege Igu on Thursday.
Leading the delegation, Forum Chairman Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), who also serves as the State Security Adviser, told the monarch that unity remained essential for the district’s progress. He said the Forum draws its membership from all seven local government areas that make up Kogi West, describing its leaders as individuals with clean records committed to quality leadership.
Omodara said the group was determined to keep residents united and to resist any effort aimed at dividing them. He described Koton Karfe as a place that cannot be overlooked in the history of both Kogi West and Kogi State, calling the visit to the palace a recognition of the Igu’s role as custodian of the area’s culture and traditions.
He acknowledged that the Forum could not pursue the goal of unity alone, which was part of the reason for consulting the traditional ruler’s counsel. He further stated that politics ought to serve as a tool for peace and development rather than division, urging residents to have clarity on which candidates would deliver good governance.
Omodara disclosed that the Forum intends to extend similar visits to local government chairmen and traditional councils across the district, with the goal of building a strong, unified political direction for the region.
Addressing the aftermath of the party’s recent primary election, he appealed to aspirants to embrace peace and allow due process to run its course, noting that some aspirants had already taken their grievances to court. He affirmed the Forum’s readiness to align with the party’s official decisions while those legal processes continue.
He also restated the Forum’s commitment to mobilizing support for APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the group’s sole interest was advancing the wellbeing of Kogi West people.
According to Omodara, Kogi West has benefited significantly under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, citing the approval of a free trade zone, the planned Kogi International Airport, and the appointment of indigenes of the district to key federal positions.
He said the Forum was working with relevant stakeholders to mobilize support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid as well as that of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. He argued that a second term for Ododo would strengthen the district’s prospects of producing the state’s next governor from Kogi West in 2031.
Omodara commended the Ohimege for his continued efforts toward improving security along the Koton Karfe–Abaji road and urged him to sustain those efforts.
Also present at the meeting, former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Alfa Imam, said the leaders had come together in the shared interest of the district’s development.
Hon. Funsho Olumoko, Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of the Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP), thanked the monarch for his consistent support of initiatives promoting peace and development. He commended Governor Ododo’s performance in office and pledged the Forum’s support for his re-election in November 2027.
Responding, the Ohimege, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu, welcomed the Forum’s visit, describing it as timely for the cause of a united Kogi West. He said the district required genuine unity of purpose to achieve its collective goals, stressing that all stakeholders must be carried along.
He expressed confidence in Commander Omodara’s leadership, noting that a power shift to the West from Kogi Central and Kogi East was achievable through sincere collaboration. He described Omodara as a humble and disciplined leader well suited to unite the senatorial district.
The monarch also praised the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, expressing optimism that the associated hardships would ease with time. He commended Governor Ododo’s commitment to security in Koton Karfe and its surrounding communities, describing the state government as responsible and responsive, and assured that residents would reciprocate the governor’s support at the appropriate time.
