- Kogi Govt Urged to Ease Sufferings of Bad Kabba-Egbe Federal Road Users
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election, Alhaji Usman Ododo alongside his running mate, Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu and other prominent party stakeholders on Monday paid a consultation visit to business mogul and opinion leader, Chief Jide Omokore in his residence at Isanlu, Yagba East Local Council.
Noting that the two terms tenure of his former boss and benefactor, Governor Yahaya Bello paved the way for many sons of nobodies like him to come to political limelight and became participants in the art of governance, he vowed to extend similar gesture to “children of nobodies”, if elected.
This is as a fresh plea has gone out to the government of Kogi State to intervene in the worsening condition of the Kabba-Egbe road, that has defied federal government’s intervention despite the lip service paid to the rehabilitation of the collapsed road through several awards of contracts without budgetary backing.
The APC candidate said the purpose of the visit was to consult and seek the support of his host and also to brief him about his plans for the state, if elected.
Ododo said the mandate of the Kogi people at the general election in November will be dedicated to the service of all and sundry, irrespective of creed, if elected governor.
He said “this is the mandate of the people, this is the mandate to unite our people, this is the mandate to secure our land. I am a child of nobody. So this is the mandate for the children of nobodies”.
He described Omokore as a “father, Okun and Kogi leader and prominent Nigerian” whose life’s accomplishments are exemplary. He promised no to disappoint him and the entire Kogi people if given the nod to succeed Bello. He promised to build on the legacies of the present administration of Bello’s, which he scored high in multi-sectoral areas of development such as security, public infrastructure, education, health care delivery and agriculture, among others. He said Governor Bello’s second term witnessed more developmental strides as against his first term, which he said had been slowed down by election litigations and intra-party squabbles due to the “Divine” circumstances that surrounded the emergence of Bello as Governor.
“When we came on board on January 27 2016, divinely, we were confronted by unnecessary and unproductive crises. We lacked political guidance, most of us came from the civil service and our various business and private sector backgrounds. Governor Bello was engaged with political crises based on reasons that no one can explain. Because our coming in was divine, people were not happy. ‘When did Yahaya Bello join politics?’ ‘Who is his father that he will come and lead us?’ ‘He cannot be our leader. We must be his leader’, and so on. In an attempt to survive, stand on our feet, unintentionally, we might have stepped on toes. We were confronted with 17 cases from the lower courts up to the supreme court. Before you knew it, two and a half years was off”, he recalled.
He further stated, “Admittedly, Governor Yahaya Bello’s first tenure faced unnecessary legal battles, but his second term in office has been remarkably fantastic and beneficial for everyone in the state and beyond. For the sake of unity and the sustained development of our dear State, we must forgive one another and collectively work towards placing it on the pedestal of economic and political stability. It is with this spirit of unity that I seek your support and the support of your followers for the upcoming governorship election, so we can realize the Kogi State of our dreams”.
During those trying times of Bello’s first term, Ododo marked out Omokore as one of the few leaders from Kogi State who offered the governor with the needed guidance to surmmount the obstacles, something he said Bello is eternally grateful for.
Alhaji Ododo informed his host that as a prominent stakeholder in Kogi State’s political and economic sector, it is imperative for him to formally visit and inform him of his governorship bid, while also briefing him about his plans and policies for the people of Kogi State when he assumes office as governor of the state next year.
He said with the abundant natural resources, Kogi State has no business with poverty with a promise to bringing the economy of the state out of the woods, if elected. He pointed out that in addition to the abundant solid minerals deposits, Kogi is bordered by 10 other states and sits at an advantage position to be the melting pot between the north and south regions, an opportunity still waiting to be tapped. He promised to make Kogi a commercial hub in the days ahead while legally tackling the menace of illegal mining activities, especially within the Okun area.
In his remarks, Chief Isiolu Chijioke who spoke on behalf of “Friends of Jide Omokore”, pleaded with the state government to ensure that the road from Aiyetoro-Gbedde to Egbe received immediate attention of the state government, without over dependence on the federal government, as the road has practically become impassable. While noting that the road is a federal road, he urged the state government to come to the aid of the suffering motorists, travelers, residents and business owners by way of palliative measures.
“You do not need to wait for the federal government because people are suffering too much and the people suffering are people of Kogi State. Something can be done for instance through the use of granite and other palliative measures. The road is practically impassable, especially when it rains. I am happy you took the pain to travel through this road coming to Isanlu and you saw how it is. If it had rained, I’m sure you’ll probably get stuck somewhere along the road.”, he said.
He called on all parties to adhere to a peaceful election in the state in November, to ensure that the electorate perform their a civic duty devoid of violence. “As Nigerians, we do not need to kill ourselves because of election. Canvas for votes and let people vote to elect the leaders of their choice, freely. All you need to do is engage them, convince them, let them know why you are the better candidate and this is our wish for Nigeria’s democracy to continue to thrive and succeed”.
He also admonished the candidate to ensure that he limits his election promises to those areas he can fulfill his promises as the era of promise and fail has gone. He however expressed optimism that the reason for his choice as successor by Governor Yahaya Bello was based on the governor’s conviction that he (Ododo), has learned the ropes and is knowledgeable about the problems of the state to enable him to continue building on his boss’ legacies.
Chief Omokore commended Ododo and members of his entourage for deeming it to consult him. He noted that Ododo is truly passionate and assertive about his developmental plans for the state, saying that he possessed traits of visionary leaders essential for the continued development of Kogi State. He enjoined him to keep to his election promises, if elected. He wished him well in his quest to emerge as the next governor of Kogi State well while adding that his doors remained opened for consultations and sharing of ideas based on issues of development and the general well being of Kogi people.
The APC candidate and his team later paid a visit to the palace of the Agbana of Isanlu, Oba Moses Etombi where he was received by traditional rulers in Isanlu Kingdom, who offered him their blessings.
On the entourage of the APC candidate were Commissioner for Information and Communications who doubles as the spokesman of the Kogi State APC Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Idris Ashiru, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Deedat Ozigi, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Bashir Gegu and son of late former Kogi State governor Abubakar Audu, Bashiru Audu, among others.
