My attention was drawn to media interview by a former chairman of Ankpa local government, Mr Hassan Yakubu Enape as he laboured in vain to discredit, malign and disparage the person and government of Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State.
The media outburst and macabre dance of shame by a one time council chairman was unbelievable, unfortunate and highly irresponsible to say the least. The interview which was aired on African Independent Television (AIT) on the 1st of June, 2025 were completely bereft of substance. Nigerians and Kogites in particular watched with total disbelieve as Mr Hassan Enape shamefully displayed his level of ignominy, immaturity, flawed and biased opinion on the person of Alh. Usman Ododo and his immediate predecessor in office, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
A supposed “elder” and community leader who ordinarily is expected to be champion of ethnic harmony and peaceful co-existence in the state was on live television spewing hate and media rants bereft of any iota of substance rather his entire messages were pigmented with hateful expression and biased thoughts built on tribal jingoism.
Calling the Executive Governor of Kogi State a “Surrogate” and other unprintable names on national tv was never an attempt to x-ray Gov. Ododo’s performance rather it is a revulsion taken too far by an ethnic bigot.
Now to set the record straight..
Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo has done pretty well in educational development of Kogi State consolidating the wonderful work of former governor Yahaya Bello. Apart from upgrading the existing tertiary institutions to higher standard, in the last five years, Kogi State government established two world class universities, committed huge resources on educational infrastructure and the schools have all their courses accredited. They are presently competing favourably with other federal universities in Nigeria.
In addition to this, and within the same period, Kogi state government also established model secondary schools across the three senatorial zones with state of the art equipment to enhance learning at post-primary education level.
Presently, Gov. Ododo’s administration through the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) has embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of primary schools across the the state with water and toilet facilities especially in rural areas. Distribution of learning materials to both teachers and pupils of primary schools who currently enjoy free education is another commendable effort of the present administration.
Therefore, I challenge Mr Hassan Yakubu Enape to compare the government investment on education within the last 8years with 19years of previous administration combine including the one he served as local government chairman.
Gov. Ododo’s administration has equally reorganized and positioned the state scholarship board and within his one year in office paid bursary to Kogi state students in various tertiary institutions and awarded full scholarship to many deserving Kogites. These are verifiable records of achievements in education and visible to everyone within and outside the state.
Road Infrastructure;
Gov. Ahmed Ododo has completed all ongoing roads and initiated many across the stte including the recently flag off construction of Idah township roads.
Completion of Zone 8 – Barrack – GYB junction, Zone 8 – Crusher road, Egbe township roads, Ogaminana – Obangede – Uhuodo road, Ihima – Obangede road, Ogaminana – Obangede road, Okene township and rural access roads were achieved within the first one year of Gov. Ododo’s administration.
However, his immediate predecessor in office, Alh. Yahaya Bello constructed the first ever flyover bridge in Lokoja, Muhammad u Buhari civic center, Ankpa township roads, Kabba township roads, and some section of Okene township roads. Visitors and residents of Kogi State can attest to the new look of the state capital.
Again, I challenge Mr Hassan Enape to either deny the existence of the above road Infrastructure in Kogi state or forever remain quiet and stop this inglorious idea of fueling ethnic disharmony using the media for personal gains.
On Health Development;
The establishment of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency remain an indelible achievements and a model for other states in Nigeria. This laudable initiative was further strengthen by the present administration. Gov. Ododo expanded it operation to cover both former and informer sectors. Today, civil servants and their dependants, including poor and vulnerable citizens are being treated free in government hospitals of their choice.
The upgrading of Kogi State specialist hospital in Lokoja, upgrading of Prince Abubakar Audu University teaching hospital in Anyigba, conversation of Reference hospital in Okene to University teaching hospital and the construction of 109 Primary Health care across the state are some of the signature projects of Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s first year in office.
Salary Payment;
Though Mr Hassan Yakubu Enape admitted to the fact that civil servants in Kogi state now receive their salaries timely and in full percentage, he was however economical with the truth by turning around to say salary Payment is not tool for measuring government performance.
On the contrary, Mr Hassan failed to understand that the primary function of any responsible government are security and welfare of the people. The government of Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo made welfare of people of Kogi state a top priority and he implementing various reforms that have brought succur and relief to them.
Gov. Ododo did not only ensure timely payment of salaries in full, he has also approved payment of minimum wage to all categories of workers above what some states and the federal government pay their workers. The state governor graciously granted tax relief to workers for a period of two years. In addition to this, Gov. Ahmed Ododo recently approved payment of the long awaited leave bonuses to workers in the state with effect from May 2025.
In all, the timely payment of salaries along with other relief were geared towards improving the welfare of workers that has so much ripple effects on the economy of the state, improve productivity, and guarantee sustainable development. So, I wonder what parameters or model used by these media wailers to measure government performance that exclude welfare of the people.
Finally, while I acknowledge the right of citizens to hold government accountable through constructive criticism with credible alternative ideas on the table, the likes of Hassan Yakubu Enape are far from this path. They are still stucked with divisive agenda using ethnicity as their only tool. Welcome to a new Kogi State of equality under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
– Hon. Zakari Yusuf Eneve
Member, Kogi State House Assembly
(2023-2027)
