A civil society organization, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR), has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to initiate town hall meetings among citizens as promised during his campaign before his election in 2024.
In a statement issued in Lokoja on Monday to assess the two years stewardship of Governor Ododo, the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR), Idris Miliki Abdul, said it is not yet uhuru as there is still a need to do more in all ramifications.
Miliki commended Governor Ododo for noticeable improvement in civil servants’ welfare.
“He has done well on the payment of salaries, as we don’t have tension in the state due to non-payment of salaries as at when due, compared to the last administrations. Thuggery is not being encouraged by his administration, we have not experienced disappearance of people linking his government. Rule of law is also encouraging at large; the state is peaceful under his watch. However, he needs to improve on the security and safety of the people in the state.
“When a child is two years old and the parent is celebrating the two years anniversary of the child, as they rejoice, they might be planning to have another child, two years might not be enough to determine maybe the child will grow and be successful in life. But to a government administration that is elected to serve for a period of four (4) years, it is imperative to evaluate such administration by those elected and whose mandate such administration derives its existence. The current governor of Kogi State was inaugurated on the 27th of January 2024, in the last two years, the state has witnessed different activities under the leadership of Ahaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” he said.
The CHRCR Executive Director said the current onslaught against bandits and other criminals is commendable as witnessed recently.
“The reports on various security agencies activities and the latest successful outing is encouraging, heartwarming and the need for it to be sustainable as security is the bedrock of development in any society.
“The reports on collective strategies among different security agencies that have brought about these recorded successful outings are also commendable developments. We commend the involvement efforts of the office of the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of police, we also commend the coordinating efforts of the State Security Adviser and call on stakeholders to work collaboratively, to confront all forms of security challenges in Kogi State. Violence extremism as currently witnessed in Kogi State and on a national scale, needs more Community Resilience, and community approach and cooperation.”
Miliki encouraged Kogi government to look into other critical sectors of the economy and improve on current achievements.
“In every human society comprising of different institutions as we have in Kogi State, a lot of work needs to be done and urgently too, in the areas such as, Transportation Sector, Housing, Water, Tourism, Human Development and Training, Media, Health, Basic Education, Constant Citizens Engagements, Infrastructural Development, and Environmental related issues,” he added.
While congratulating him on his second-year anniversary as the executive governor of Kogi state, CHRCR called on Governor Ododo to change some of his aides, reduce his cabinet and inject new ideas and new people in the last phase of this current mandate.
