It is a verifiable fact across the length and breadth of Kogi state that the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, and see things from the viewpoint of the downtrodden and that of ordinary man on the street is a strong inherent attributes of Alh. Usman Ahmed Ododo right from childhood.
The public manifestation of this unique trait became well established in 2016 after he had been appointed as the Auditor-General for local governments in Kogi State by Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Hon. Usman Ododo did not only breath air of seriousness, commitment and professional ideas to his new office, he was able to meticulously deployed his highly endowed knowledge on ICT to curb corruption and prevent waste of government resources.
Beyond his official duties as Auditor-General for the 21 local governments, Ododo also command large grassroots followership to the delight of his boss and benefactor, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
Hon. Usman Ododo’s benevolence and display of uncommon empathy to all irrespective of tribe and religion believe, his humility, kindness and accessibility by the people account for his large grassroots connect.
Alh. Usman Ododo has in the last few years financially empowered a number of people. Ododo secured jobs for the youths. He raised the status of many especially women and youths beyond expectations. He strategically mobilized resources and provided useful intervention projects across communities in Kogi State.
Alh. Usman Ododo build an ultra-modern state of the art clinic for the people of Okene-eba, Upogoro, Agassa, Ahache and Odenku communities located in Upogoro axis. He procured science text books for secondary school students across the three senatorial district of the state. The gesture was aim at boosting science and technology education in the state.
When the hope of having a new palace for the paramount ruler of Ebiraland seems elusive, Ododo on the request of his boss picked up the challenge, and delivered a world class palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland within a short period of time with less amount as earlier envisage saving the state huge financial resources.
Ododo’s exclusive idea to embark on monthly empowerment program starting with women and youths from his immediate constituency in Upogoro has been described as the most effective and reliable model for poverty eradication at the rural areas. The monthly empowerment program has revived and sustained over 200 Small and Medium Scale Businesses (SMEs) with it corresponding ripple effect on jobs creation and the economy.
Therefore, the people of Kogi State should come enmass and vote Alh. Usman Ahmed Ododo as a worthy successor to consolidate on the numerous achievements of Gov. Yahaya Bello. Political pundits and public affair analyst believed the electorates might have looked beyond tribal sentiment instead opted for someone whose life trajectory transcend beyond just mere politics of ethnic bigotry.
Though, Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration paraded a team of talented men and women that helped executes the ‘New Direction Blueprints’ the task ahead still requires someone with verifiable records of pragmatic leadership capacity and an inherent traits of human empathy as exemplified by Alh. Usman Ahmed Ododo.
– Hon. Zakari Yusuf (Nescafe)
Member, Kogi State House of Assembly,
Okene II Constituency
