Director General, Kogi State Special Task Force on Illegal Smuggling of Firearms and Other Related Crimes, Elder Friday Sani Makama has hailed the emergence of Alhaji Usman Ododo as the Governor-elect.
Makama, who described the victory of Ododo as well deserved in a statement on Monday morning, stated that the people Kogi State have made the right choice to elect a leader who will further unite them and consolidate on the achievement of the present administration.
According to the APC chieftain, the victory of Ododo on Saturday never came to him as a surprise, adding that it has further proved that the people appreciated the unprecedented development which the party has achieved under Governor Yahaya Bello in the past seven years in office.
While maintaining that he will forever remain committed towards the promotion of Kogi Agenda, Makama further posited that it is time for the people of Kogi State to rally round the incoming government.
He seized the opportunity to call on aggrieved individuals, especially the co-contestants in the just concluded governorship election, to close ranks, bury their hatchet by working closely with the incoming administration for the peace, unity, benefit and interest of Kogi State.
“The people of Kogi State have spoken with one voice on Saturday that their choice is Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, the flower Boy. Today, is one of the happiest day in my life. It is the beginning of a new dawn. Kogi State has elected a man full with capacity, determination, and ready to change things for good in our dear State. I am very optimistic that Kogi State will continue to move forward under the incoming administration among comity of states.
“Let me also state emphatically that, the present Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Eleojo Bello has done well for the people of Kogi State. Under his leadership, the State recorded development in education, infrastructure, health, security and many more. He has proven himself that he is a leader with a difference.
“My boss, thank you for giving the opportunity to serve in your Government. I pray that God in his mercy will continue to uplift you and ensure that Kogi State remains the pace setter for peace and development in Nigeria,” he said.
It could be recalled that, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the Kogi State off-cycle governorship election which took place on Saturday.
INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Johnson Urama who announced the result after collation of election results from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state on Sunday night in Lokoja said Ododo won by polling a total number of 446,237 votes.
The Returning Officer said that the APC Governorship candidate defeated his closest rival, Muritala Yakubu Ajak of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who scored 259,052 votes.
Johnson Urama, a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), said that Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed behind the duo with 46,362 votes.
