Governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the November governorship election in Kogi state, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the weekend visited the Obaro’s palace Kabba to solicit for the support of the Ilajo Royal family in the election.
The governorship candidate who came in a large entourage said he found it very important to visit the family for their support as he was going round for campaigns and pleaded with the family to vote for him during the election so that he can continue with the good works of governor Yahaya Bello.
Ododo said if voted into power he will take the state to an enviable height and ensure that there is rapid transformation of the state with provision of social amenities and employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
He assured that the newly established state university in Kabba would soon commence academic activities, stressing that the governor has already released necessary funds for the smooth take- off and stressed that the first set of recruited staff will resume work before the year runs out.
Ododo said the people can not afford to vote for other party as President Bola Tinubu has a well laid out blueprint for the country and urged them to continue to support the ruling party.
Ododo was welcomed into the palace with pomp and pageantry by the elders, youths and women of the royal family who came out in large numbers in colorful attires.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Youth leader of the Ilajo Royal family, Prince Jacob Arokoyo thanked the governorship candidate for deeming it necessary to visit the palace, saying Governor Yahaya Bello did the same thing seven years ago when he came for royal blessings from the late Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michael Olobayo during the build up to the 2015 governorship election.
He said the visit was symbolic because Ododo sat at the same spot and wore similar attires like Alhaji Yahaya Bello when he visited the palace seven years ago and was prayed for landslide victory at the poll.
An APC stalwart and governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Banji Jimoh who was one of the aspirants that stepped down for Ododo before the party’s primary described the Ilajo Royal family as very reliable ally when it comes to election matters saying once they decide to support any candidate they do it with utmost totality.
The APC stalwart commended Governor Yahaya Bello for transforming the state and for establishing another state university in Kabba and assured the governorship candidate of the people’s support.
The governorship candidate was later taken into the inner chambers of the palace where prayers were offered for him by elders of the family led by the Chairman of the central working committee of the Royal Family, High Chief Peter Oloba and High Chief Bebeyi
Among those in the entourage of the governorship hopeful to the palace are the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mr Deedat Ozigi; commissioner for education, Mr Wemi Jones; the State security adviser, Comdr.Jerry Omodara Rtd; the Kabba- Bunu House of Assembly member, Hon Seyi Bello and an APC chieftain and the grand patron of Okun United for Ododo, Mr Banji Jimoh.
Others are the ALGON chairman and ijumu Local government chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Isa, the kabba- bunu council chairman, a chairmanship aspirant , Mr Segun Arokoyo and the former speaker of the assembly among others.
