Gov. Ododo: Capping up his one year with direct visits/supervision of government institutions and approvals of more projects
By Hon Chris Ben-Kato Senior Special Assistant on Information and communication strategy
For some leaders officialdom is the zest but for His Excellency, the Chief Servant of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, people oriented officialdom backed up with keeping faith with the electorates of the state has eternally remained his focus.
Winding up his one year in office, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who has been performing excellently to the admiration of Kogi people refused to remain in the comfort of his office but had from time to time moved out to directly have the pulse of government institutions in the state with a view to consolidate on his administration.
In the few weeks leading to his one year in office in the month of January 2025, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo took Kogi people by surprise through his positive moves in approving new projects for the people and also personally visiting projects sites and inspecting institutions of government. This landmark actions of the peoples governor has etched his name permanently in the minds of the people and placed him as one of the modern great leaders of Kogi State.
In a surprise move, the Chief Servant of the state, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo did not only personally visited the GYB Model Secondary school but humbly sat down in the classroom with the students of the school ascertaining the impart of learning among the students. This he did to enable him have the direct pulse of government investment in education and also have a more clear understanding of what is required to improve the standard of education in the state. Permit me to state here that this action of the governor has brought hope alive for the people of the state on his unbeatable leadership style in the state.
In alleviating the pains parents have to pass through for tax clearance in the process of enrolling their wards in schools in the state, His Excellency , Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo took the bold steps in stopping the tax clearance directive. The governor’s positive step has given the parents across the state a positive assurance of him having them in mind and carrying them along in his administration.
About a week ago, the governor made a stop over at Zango Community a suburb of Lokoja metropolis. The people in the area applauded the governor for completing the long stretch of Zone 8 – Zango – GYB junction road with asphalt overlay and solar street lights. Overwhelmed by the recognition and support the community gave his administration, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo promised to establish a hospital to cater for the health care needs of the community. The promise retreates the governor’s close link to the various communities in Kogi State.
In his close link to the various communities in Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo this month approved the sum of #6.39B contract for the rehabilitation of roads across the rural communities that made up the twenty one Local Government Areas of Kogi State.. His Excellency, the Chief Servant of Kogi State is in touch with every community in the state and understands the plight of his people and always prepared to meet their needs.
Prior to His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s last month of his one year administration’s visits to government institutions and approval of new projects for the people of the state, the governor has continued to provide the dividends of democracy to all sectors in Kogi State in the last one year in office.
The governor has not left anyone in the dark to the intent that his administration is succeeding on the back of his predecessor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello. The governor in many fora has made it clear that he is operating on the template his predecessor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello put in place before leaving office.
As a matter of fact, while his predecessor, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello’s administrative template was NEW DIRECTION ADMINISTRATION the template of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administrative template is ADVANCED NEW DIRECTION ADMINISTRATION signifying a continuity of the administration of his predecessor in office.
In his humility of implementing the continuity agenda in the state, His Excellency, the Chief Servant of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has in the last one year in office executed numerous people oriented projects for the good of the entire Kogi people.
On the welfare of the entire civil servants in the state, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo implemented the continuity agenda by ensuring the full payment of all the Local Government workers in the state. On the new minimum wage, the governor was one of the first among his colleagues to pay the entire Kogi State workers the minimum wage of #70,500. This was a rare feat in the country and had made the state workers happier and also increased their productivity in the state.
In his plight to relieve the burdens of parents, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo approved the payment of six hundred million naira for the final year students in all the secondary schools in the state. He also approved the sum of eight billion naira for the provision of educational infrastructure at Kogi State University Kabba. The Confluence State University of Science and Technology Osara has also received financial support leading to the approval medical courses, accreditation of several courses and establishment of a teaching hospital for the institution.
The governor being a grassroots politician has approved the establishment of a brand new modern market along Zone 8 – Crusher road in Lokoja metropolis. The governor has also approved the establishment of a cargo airport in the state. These programmes are all geared towards boosting the economic activities of the state.
On Security, the state has remained peaceful since the governor assumed office on January 27, 2024. The governor bought several vehicles and distributed to all the security agencies in the state in order to make Kogi State a no go area to criminals.
The farmers in the state have received tractors, free fertilizers and pesticides to boost food production in the state. Owners of Small and medium enterprises in the state have received various sums of interest free loans from the state government to boost their business in the state.
So far so good, our amiable governor is not only workaholic but a good promise keeper on his electoral campaign promises. He is very determined at all times to always do his best to meet the needs of the entire Kogi people.
Without mincing words I want to sincerely appeal to the good people of Kogi State to continue to support the good administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. As it is often said to him much is given much is required of him. His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is doing a lot for the progress of Kogi State. As good citizens of the state let us all join hands together in supporting the laudable administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
LONG LIVE KOGI STATE
LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Hon Chris Ben-Kato is the Senior Special Assistant on Information and communication strategy to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.