Ahead of Kogi local government elections, the state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, says he is committed to encouraging and empowering the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to organize a free, fair, and credible local council election.
He disclosed this on Tuesday at the Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting held at the state party Secretariat in Lokoja.
He further stated that the upcoming Local Government Poll will offer another opportunity to gauge public acceptance of the party.
He said, “It’s with great honor that I welcome you to this all important meeting to enable the key Stakeholders of our dear party deliberate on the forthcoming council poll in the State.
“The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), which is charged with the responsibility of organizing the election, has blown the whistle for the commencement of the processes leading to the election.
“As an organised and democratic party that we are, it’s pertinent for us to come together and brainstorm on how to win a free and fair election in line with our commitment to be fair to all.
“Our administration with your support, has continued to deliver democracy dividends to the people of the State. We inherited a popular party from our predecessor and we are determined to even make it more popular and acceptable to the great people of Kogi State. We’re making it increasingly unnecessary for anyone in Kogi State to choose any other party over the APC. My administration will encourage and empower KOSIEC to organize a free and fair election.
“As a Democrat, I’ll listen to your position on matters that affect our dear party and our dear state. I’m your messenger here and I promise to carry the message of our party to the people.
Speaking on the achievement of the government, he said, “We’ve empowered and still empowering thousands of our people. We’ve consistently given palliatives to cushion the effects of our national rebuilding process of poor households. We’re investing billions into agriculture to guarantee food security and crash the cost of food in our dear state and Nigeria.
We’re upgrading Primary Healthcare Centres across the state to improve the quality of healthcare delivery at the grassroots. We’re turning Kogi to a construction site with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of urban roads. We’ve released huge sums of money for township roads construction and rehabilitation across the Local Government Areas in the first phase of the rehabilitation project. We’re also massively changing the faces of our higher institutions of learning; among many other life-touching projects, programs and policies.”
“Let me specially thank Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his tremendous support to the sub-nationals to drive our nation from the perilous state he inherited.
“I call him the President for a time like this because without his experience, doggedness, expertise and will power, Nigeria would have sunk into more embarrassing situations.
“His infrastructural revolution across the country and the economic recovery incentives he has given us are the reasons we are shining today. Better days are ahead as the President has assured me of his commitment to the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company. With Ajaokuta Steel Company working at full capacity, Nigeria will become one of the most prosperous nations in Africa,” Ododo said.
He added, “As a state that is rich in mineral resources, we are also grateful to Mr President for making it possible for states to take part in the exploration of mineral resources through mining and economic interests that we’re currently working on. His policies are tailored towards true federalism and Kogi is surely benefitting massively from those lofty policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“The President started the protest against the rot he met by working day and night to save Nigeria from economic hardship. He has also provoked all of us to put on our thinking caps to address the basic needs of the people. He has been a big advocate of us producing what we eat and eat what we produce.
Food won’t come from street protests that are often hijacked to cause mayhem. Food will only come when we make conscious and deliberate efforts to produce enough for ourselves and others. Anyone canvassing for destructive protests at a time like this is an enemy of our nation.
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“I urge us all to support Mr. President. He has good plans for our nation and he is already implementing them. Magic won’t happen overnight. It takes patience, support and cooperation. We must all work with him to make our nation great. Those calling for protests now do not have the interest of Nigeria at heart. I am glad that Kogi is concentrating on development rather than politically motivated protest.
“I’ve approved a Quarterly Ministerial Briefing by all my Commissioners and other top Government Officials to periodically give account of our stewardship. Accountability is the hallmark of our administration and the first one will be held in September to tell you what we have done so far.
The Ministry of Information and Communications has been mandated to coordinate this in fulfillment of my promise to the people of Kogi State to always tell them what we are doing and also hear from them. I am a servant hired with your votes to serve you. I will not fail you.
“I urge our party leaders and members to work together to ensure the constitution of our party is followed in the build up to the forthcoming council poll. Let us all work together to make our party shine again,” Ododo said.
