By Micheal Adebowale
The assertion by Muhammed Jamiu that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will deliver Kogi State for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, with or without Senator Sunday Karimi on the ballot, raises fundamental questions about governance, political accountability and the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state.
While Governor Ododo has every constitutional right to mobilise political support for his party and the President, the more important question is whether his administration, alongside that of his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has delivered sufficient democratic dividends to justify the confidence being expressed by their supporters.
Elections are not won sustainably through political slogans, declarations of loyalty, party structures or claims of popularity. In a democratic society, electoral support should be earned through measurable achievements, improved living conditions and policies that positively affect the lives of ordinary citizens.
Therefore, rather than engage in political rhetoric about who can deliver Kogi State for President Tinubu, Jamiu and other supporters of the present administration should provide verifiable evidence of what the APC has achieved in the state since assuming power.
The question is straightforward: What exactly can Governor Ododo and his predecessor showcase to Kogi people as evidence of their years in government?
Where are the measurable infrastructural achievements?
Jamiu describes Governor Ododo as a governor of action, claiming that his administration has made significant progress in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, agriculture and empowerment.
These are substantial claims that deserve equally substantial evidence.
What are the major infrastructural projects completed by Governor Ododo and his predecessor across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State?
How many kilometres of roads have been constructed or rehabilitated in Kogi West, Kogi Central and Kogi East? What are the locations of these projects, and which communities have directly benefited?
What are the major legacy projects that residents can identify as the achievements of the over 10 years of APC administration in Kogi State?
Beyond commissioning ceremonies, billboards, political advertisements and official statements, the people deserve a comprehensive scorecard of the administration’s performance.
Residents of Lokoja, Kabba, Koton-Karfe, Okene, Anyigba, Idah, Ankpa and other communities across the state have every right to demand answers about the quality and distribution of infrastructure.
Development should not be measured by the number of political announcements but by projects that are completed, functional, accessible and beneficial to the people.
What have the 21 local government areas achieved?
Another important issue that requires clarification is the performance of the 21 local government areas in the state.
For nearly 11 years, the APC has controlled the Kogi State Government. Can its supporters provide a comprehensive account of the development projects executed by the 21 local government councils within this period?
How many rural roads have been constructed or rehabilitated? How many primary healthcare centres have been renovated and adequately equipped? How many public schools have been upgraded? How many boreholes and community water projects have been delivered?
What identifiable development projects can local government chairmen showcase in their respective councils?
Local governments constitute the third tier of government and are expected to bring development closer to the grassroots. Their performance should therefore be assessed through visible projects, improved public services and the living conditions of residents.
If the local government system has performed creditably, as supporters of the APC administration would want the public to believe, there should be no difficulty presenting evidence.
The electorate deserves to know what has happened to grassroots development across the 21 councils.
Where are the industries, factories and housing estates?
Perhaps one of the most critical areas requiring attention is industrial development, employment generation and affordable housing.
How many functional factories or major industries have been established by the administrations of Yahaya Bello and Ahmed Usman Ododo in the last 11 years?
Which industries have been established to create sustainable employment opportunities for Kogi youths?
How many existing moribund industries have been revived, and what is their current operational status?
Similarly, how many housing estates have been constructed by the successive administrations to address the increasing cost of accommodation, particularly in Lokoja, the state capital?
These are important questions because empowerment programmes and occasional cash distributions, though useful, cannot replace sustainable employment, industrialisation and a productive economy.
Kogi State occupies a strategic geographical position as a commercial gateway between several parts of the country. It is also endowed with agricultural and mineral resources that should ordinarily attract investors and encourage industrial development.
Why, therefore, should the state continue to struggle with the challenge of translating these economic advantages into sustainable employment and improved living standards?
The people deserve to know what has been achieved in this regard and what concrete plans exist to change the situation.
What will Ododo showcase to Lokoja residents?
The state capital deserves particular attention in this debate.
What exactly will Governor Ododo and his political supporters showcase to residents of Lokoja when they come seeking their votes in 2027?
Will it be the condition of some urban roads, persistent complaints about water supply, rising living costs, the high cost of accommodation or concerns about the availability of essential drugs and medical facilities in public hospitals?
Will the administration campaign on the strength of public healthcare facilities that residents continue to demand should be better equipped and adequately funded?
A state capital should ordinarily reflect the development aspirations of the entire state. Lokoja should be a model of urban renewal, functional infrastructure, efficient public services and improved living standards.
Unfortunately, recurring complaints about water supply, road conditions, public healthcare and the general cost of living remain important issues that deserve urgent government attention.
These are not matters that should be dismissed as political propaganda. They affect the everyday lives of ordinary residents.
If Governor Ododo is confident of securing another mandate, his supporters should be able to explain what has changed in Lokoja and what additional development the administration intends to deliver.
What programmes will the APC present to the electorate?
Beyond insisting that President Tinubu will win Kogi State, what specific programmes will the APC-led government present to the electorate in 2027?
What is the administration’s roadmap for tackling unemployment, poverty, inadequate infrastructure, poor healthcare services and the growing cost of doing business?
What economic opportunities have been created for graduates, artisans, farmers, traders and small-scale business owners?
What practical measures are being implemented to ensure that public hospitals have adequate medicines, qualified personnel and functional equipment?
What is the administration’s plan for improving public education, expanding access to potable water and strengthening the rural economy?
The electorate deserves policy statements, measurable targets and accountability.
It is no longer sufficient to tell citizens that a governor is accessible, humble, accommodating or humane. These are commendable personal qualities, but they must complement good governance and tangible development.
Ultimately, the performance of an administration should be determined by what it has delivered, not merely by how its supporters describe it.
Karimi’s record deserves independent assessment
While Jamiu attempts to diminish Senator Sunday Karimi’s political relevance, it is equally important to examine the senator’s contributions to his constituency and the country.
Senator Karimi’s performance should not be assessed merely on the basis of whether he will appear on the ballot or whether his political position aligns with the preferences of certain party leaders.
As the representative of Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, his contributions should be measured through legislative interventions, constituency projects, educational support, healthcare initiatives, infrastructure and empowerment programmes.
His interventions in education, including support for students, scholarships, bursaries and educational infrastructure, deserve independent assessment.
His constituency interventions in healthcare, support for medical services and efforts to improve access to healthcare should also be evaluated against the needs of the people.
On infrastructure, attention should be given to electricity projects, road interventions, water facilities and other community-based projects facilitated through his office.
His empowerment programmes, support for small businesses, assistance to vulnerable groups and interventions targeting women and youths are equally important areas of assessment.
Beyond constituency projects, his contributions to national discourse at the Senate deserve consideration. Legislative debates, motions, oversight activities and discussions on national development, security, economic challenges and democratic accountability constitute important aspects of a senator’s responsibilities.
The National Assembly is not merely a platform for distributing empowerment materials. It is a constitutional institution where elected representatives are expected to contribute to lawmaking, oversight and national policy direction.
Of course, the constitutional responsibilities of a senator differ from those of a state governor. A senator cannot be held responsible for every executive function of a state government, just as a governor cannot claim credit for every constituency intervention facilitated by a federal legislator.
However, that distinction should not be used to dismiss Karimi’s contributions or shield the executive from public scrutiny.
The people should be allowed to examine the records of all political officeholders and make their judgments based on verifiable facts.
Karimi and the question of justice, equity and political inclusion
The political debate in Kogi West should also accommodate the principles of justice, equity, fairness and political inclusion.
No individual or political group should assume that political loyalty automatically translates into ownership of the electorate’s votes.
Senator Karimi, like every other political officeholder, should be assessed on his record, political conduct and commitment to the development of his constituency.
Equally, Governor Ododo should be assessed on his performance as the chief executive of Kogi State.
The people must not be denied their right to question government or express legitimate political preferences simply because some political leaders consider such questions inconvenient.
Democracy thrives when elected officials are accountable and citizens are free to demand explanations.
Political loyalty is not a substitute for performance
Jamiu argues that Kogi State is bigger than any individual politician. On this point, there can be no disagreement.
No senator, governor, political godfather or party leader owns the votes of the people.
However, the same principle applies to Governor Ododo. His position as governor does not automatically translate into electoral acceptance, just as Senator Karimi’s political influence does not guarantee electoral victory.
The assertion that Tinubu will win Kogi State because Ododo is working must therefore be supported by evidence of the governor’s performance.
If the administration has performed exceptionally well, its supporters should have no difficulty presenting a comprehensive scorecard covering the three senatorial districts and the 21 local government areas.
They should tell the people what was promised, what has been delivered, what remains outstanding and what new programmes they intend to implement.
Similarly, those advocating support for Senator Karimi should present his record and allow the electorate to make an informed judgment.
The issue should not be about who has the loudest political voice but who has made the greatest contribution to the development of the people.
The 2027 election should be about accountability
The political conversation ahead of 2027 should not be reduced to whether Governor Ododo can deliver Kogi State for President Tinubu with or without Senator Karimi.
The more important question is whether the APC-led government in Kogi State has delivered enough to earn another mandate.
Kogi people are not necessarily interested in political superiority contests. They want functional roads, reliable access to potable water, affordable healthcare, quality education, employment opportunities, industrial development and an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
They want local governments that can point to concrete development projects. They want public hospitals that can provide essential medicines and quality medical services. They want an administration that understands the economic difficulties confronting ordinary families.
They also want a government that recognises that political power is a public trust and that every mandate comes with the responsibility to deliver.
Governor Ododo and his supporters should therefore be prepared to present their achievements for public scrutiny. The record of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, should equally be subjected to the same assessment.
Senator Karimi’s record should also be examined objectively, without political prejudice or unnecessary attempts to diminish his contributions.
Ultimately, the ballot belongs to the electorate, not to political officeholders, party leaders or their supporters.
The 2027 election will provide Kogi people another opportunity to assess those who have governed them, those who have represented them and those seeking to continue in public office.
The question is simple: What have you done for the people, what evidence can you show, and what more are you prepared to do?
That is the conversation Kogi State needs ahead of 2027, not the politics of who can deliver whom.
– Micheal Adebowale, writes from Kabba, Kogi State.
