By joshua 
How Gov Ododo solidifies religious harmony
By Hon Chris Ben-Kato Senior Special Assistant on Information and Communication Strategy to Gov. Ododo
In Nigeria, religion has become a place where some people raise issues to divide the people. A recent case was the 2023 Presidential election where some religious irrendists raised issues on the Muslim/Muslim joint Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party. Hard as the promoters of religious division tried, they failed to sway the electorates from voting the Presidential candidates of APC.
Over the years, religion has become a point in which some people in Nigeria hide to promote their selfish and political interest.
In the past, we have seen where vocal religious promotion has resulted to serious crisis of maiming, killings, burning of houses and properties. Thank God it is no longer the case in our country today.
Every leader in Nigeria worth his onions will never toy with religious matters. This so as the religious divided in the country is so sharp. We have continued to see cases where in many occasions a Muslim and Christian prayers has to be offered before the event takes off. This a proof that religion in our country is a serious matter.
For the Chief Servant of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, he respects the nation’s constitution which recognizes the various religion that exists in the country.
When His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo received the Kogi State inter religious group which is made up of the Jama’atu Nasir Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) members in Government House Lokoja on Tuesday, it was a prove of the governor’s steadfast faith in religious harmony in the state. In his second year in office, the governor has consolidated and ensured an unreserved unity for the people of the state in moving the state forward.
During his interaction with the two religious body in the state, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo acknowledged the resilient of the bodies during his election into office in November 2023. He assured them of his continued support to the promotion of religious harmony in the state. The statement of the governor no doubt is a clear path to the promotion of peace and good governance in the state.
Recall that the predecessor of Governor Ododo, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello was the first governor in the state to build a Christian Chapel at Government House Lokoja. It was the first of its kind after the creation of the state for over three decades.
His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo in following the footsteps of his predecessor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello has fully embraced religious harmony in the state by hosting the two religious body with a heart to heart discussion with their leadership.
In acknowledging the magnanimity of His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo in promoting religious harmony in the state, the leaders of the two religious body in the state, Ambassador Usman Bello of the Jama’atu Nasir Islam and his counterpart of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Adegboye Emmanuel thanked the governor for hosting them. Both of them assured the governor that they will continue to preach peace among their members. They appreciated the governor for the relative peace being witnessed in the state since he assumed office on January 27, 2024. They also thanked the governor for his resilient in the prompt payment of workers salaries and the payment of monthly allowances to the pensioners in the state.
The leaders of the religious body urged the governor to continue to build on his good work for the people of the state. They also prayed for his good health in promoting his administration in the state.
There is no doubt that the interaction session between His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo and leaders of the religious body has deepened religious harmony in the state. It has also gone a very long way in proving that the governor is a lover of all religious bodies in the state and must be appreciated for this great gesture.
It is my candid opinion that as politicians have already started jostling for the 2027 general elections, it should behove on the religious leaders to mobilize their members in ensuring that His Excellency, the amiable and workaholic governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is voted back into office by 2027.
DEFINITELY ONE GOOD TERM DESERVES ANOTHER.
SAI ODODO, TARZARCE 2027
Hon. Chris Ben-Kato is the Senior Special Assistant on Information Communication Strategy to His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.