Caught in the art of redefining politicking and sacrifice rarely seen in these climes is Hon Femi Owoniyi (Omoga), Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Political Affairs who appointed 76 aides in Kabbabunu Local Government Area of Kogi State for mobilization and strengthening the link between government and the grassroots.
The following are excerpts from a brief encounter between Omoga and Ralph Omololu Agbana
On the appointment of 76 aides
Most of the people I appointed are people who worked for His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA during the last governorship election, and I discovered they’re not being carried along in this government. I just have to do that to please my people, especially those people who genuinely worked for Governor Ododo, but are sidelined.
On the sustainability of the appointments and sources of funding of the appointees’ salaries
The state government is paying me salaries, though the salary is not much, so I have to add the equivalent to my monthly salary to pay their salaries. Their salaries are not much—some are taking N30,000, some N20,000, some N10,000, which they are satisfied with it in as much as we carry them along.
On motivation, purpose, and what he hopes to achieve with the large-scale appointments
I don’t want to start telling them stories when the campaign starts like saying, “Come and work again—we’ll settle you later, ” whereas you have not even settled them for the one they have done. So, I just thought of giving them a sense of belonging.
On Governor Ododo, Senator Sunday Karimi and President Bola Tinubu’s Performances
Governor Ododo has done wonderfully well. There’s no any other governor I can think of in terms of performance. In fact, Gov Ododo has performed more than his predecessor. You cannot compare this administration with the previous administration. Today, APC has been made more attractive in Kogi State because Governor Ododo is working. He does not joke with workers’ welfare, and see infrastructure everywhere. He has achieved significant progress across various sectors, including governance, security, education, health, and agriculture. Above all, Governor Ododo is governing the state with the fear of God, fairness, equity, and justice.
Coming to the presidential level, I don’t even believe that anybody stands a chance of contesting against President Bola Tinubu this time around because that man is God sent to reset this country. The usual scarcity of fuel has disappeared, food prices are on the decrease, the economy is stabilizing, and many more. I believe if given another chance in 2027, he will do more.
With Senator Karimi, I believe Kogi West is in a safe hand. He has done wonderfully well—the annual bursary and scholarships award for students, suppprting women cooperative societies through providing funds for small-scale businesses, transformers to boost electricity, water everywhere, education infrastructure, distribution of food items, building of a Military Forward Operating Base to tackle insecurity, construction of bridges, effective representation in the National Assembly and many more. Kogi West is in a safe hand.
On Insecurity in Kogi State, especially Kogi West
The issue of insecurity is not peculiar to Kogi State or Kogi West in particular. It is everywhere–a national crisis. I believe His Excellency Governor Ododo and Senator Karimi are not resting on their oars to ensure that the situation is brought under control. Recently, if you observe, you can see that the situation has calmed down, and we pray and believe that it will calm down permanently.
