News
Kogi: Governor Ododo says his government will hit the ground running
***promises improved economy in all sectors, nip greed, irresponsibility
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Newly inaugurated Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has said that his government will hit the ground running with people-oriented projects even as urged them to brace up for necessary but hard choices for sustenance of good governance.
Ododo made the disclosure in his post inaugural speech shortly after administration of Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance on him by the state Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi and subsequent handing over ceremony.
The governor stated that as the state grapple with challenges of the past, the people must reckon that a new era has berthed and urged, “We must therefore work together to stem the tide of greed and irresponsibility in whatever guise, shape or form.
“We must be prepared to make hard choices in our collective effort to birth a new day in our state. The unity and cooperation of every one of us will greatly contribute to the peace and progress of our dear state.
“Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, despite the election storm that threatened to set brothers and sisters against one another, we are here today.
“Because we have chosen unity over disunity, greatness over petty grievances and peace over perilous acts of recrimination and worn-out dogmas of ethnic jingoism.
“Kogi State cannot afford to revert back to the fractured psyche, riddled with scars of ethnicity that violated the values and the very fabric that bounds our people together.
“As a people, we must remain faithful and true to the ideals and dreams of our founding fathers.
“The Kogi agenda has prevailed and our state and people are better for it. We are sure that we shall deliver on our promises of a united, secure, progressive and prosperous Kogi State.
“Our approach will be open, frank and rugged, but I am confident that it will lead us eventually to progress and prosperity.
We must be prepared to make hard choices in our collective effort to birth a new day in our state. The unity and cooperation of every one of us will greatly contribute to the peace and progress of our dear state”, he said.
The newly inaugurated Governor said time had come for the people to commence the process of achieving a charter of equity on power rotation in the state.
According to him, this is because “it is now apparent that no single senatorial district in the state can go it alone without the cooperation and support of others who are core equals in the political configuration of our state.”
Ododo said his government will hit the ground running with the people-oriented projects that would be delivered with utmost focus on the well-being of the people pledging to govern with transparency, probity and accountability at all times.
The governor expressed optimism that the economy of the state would witness remarkable improvement based on the solid foundation laid by Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
He pledged to further open up Kogi state to investors willing to collaborate under the already provided robust public Private partnership (PPP) framework.
“We are going to make Kogi State an attractive investment destination for local and foreign investors.
On infrastructures, Ododo pledged that in the new era, more homes would be built, more jobs created as businesses are expected to blossom while farmland thrive.
“Our health care system will witness massive improvement in scale and efficiency, our school will be filled and our teachers will have more reason to smile on their way to the classrooms.
Our youth will find more avenues to build skills for innovation and creative enterprises, and the welfare of our women shall be the utmost priority of this administration”, he said.
According to the governor, there are some bare faced challenges facing the nation’s economy, particularly foreign exchange, unemployment and inflationary trends.
Efforts of the state government in tackling these challenges would require completing all critical infrastructural projects of the immediate past administration that are dear to the well-being of our people and by tapping into existing opportunities for partnership with the Federal Government.
They will also focus on “our areas of comparative advantage, such as Solid Minerals and Steel Development, Agriculture, Marine and Blue Economy, Tourism and Creative Economy.
“As well as information technology and digital economy, where our youth population with tremendous energy can be hugely mobilized to become key players in the value chain.
“As a government, we are extremely optimistic and we have very high ambitions which may not be met easily or in a short span of time.
“But let me assure you that with the guardianship from God Almighty, support from our elders, the enterprise of men and women who will serve in this administration and with the full cooperation of you all, our expectations will be met.
“Our dream will be made up of individuals with ambitions greater than what you have seen before now”, he pledged. (Ends)
***Blames love for personal enrichment in public service for poverty. Insecurity in the region
A former National Health Insurance Scheme secretary, Usman Yusuf has expressed concern over the disparities in development and resource allocation between the north and south of Nigeria.
He lamented that while the south is investing in massive infrastructure projects like a 15.6 trillion naira highway, the north is struggling with poverty and insecurity
Yusuf criticised the prioritisation of personal enrichment in public service, citing examples of corrupt practices and the need for accountability.
He emphasised that holding public office is not an end in itself but rather a means to serve the people, and that true leadership requires dedication to the well-being of all citizens.
According to him, “Our people in the north are lining up like defeated people, while in the south, they’re building a 15.6 trillion highway. We in the north are not doing well. We are here in Abuja distributing money to themselves, Ningi Gate, you forgot. So the failure is ours; I’ve said it again and again: position means nothing; all these SUVs you’re going around in mean nothing because, all of you, we’ve had Chiefs of Army staff, Chiefs of Service, and Ministers; when they retire, nobody can go back home and spend the weekend without these big black guns.”
Usman Yusuf is a Nigerian professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation and an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and has practiced medicine across three continents – Africa, Europe and North America – after his MBBS in 1982. He was appointed the executive secretary / chief executive officer of the National Helath Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in August 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A faith-based Civil Society Organization, (CSO), that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities Independent Hajj Reporters, (IHR) has called on the Federal and state governments to make adequate security arrangements for pilgrims at embarkation points across the country.
This is coming as the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begins on Wednesday this week.
In a statement on Monday signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed the IHR indicated that over 65, 000 intending pilgrims from Nigeria will be leaving their homes to various Hajj camps for screening and onward transportation to about 15 airports within the next 30 days.
The Statement observed that such mass movement of people from one point to another creates serious security challenges that need a comprehensive and coordinated strategy by the various security agencies in the country.
“While we appreciate the efforts made by security agencies in previous operations, we call on the federal government to order and activate a high-level security surveillance system to monitor and protect the movement of pilgrims throughout the outbound and inbound airlift operations.
“We also urge State Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to advise intending pilgrims against coming to hajj camps with large escorts usually made up of family members as such increases the likelihood of security breaches especially
when airlift operations demand that pilgrims can be invited to hajj camps at any time of the day or night.
State governments should complement the federal security architecture by mobilizing local vigilantes and other volunteers to form a hajj security team and provide them with internal communication equipment with state hajj officials, airliners and other airlift stakeholders.
“As journalists who worked closely with security agencies during hajj operations, IHR had in the last few years honour security institutions during its annual hajj lectures and awards to appreciate and encourage them to improve on their daunting tasks of maintaining security of lives and properties across the country.”
IHR further appealed to Security forces to take necessary “measures to prevent evil-minded groups from exploiting the Hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage.
“Anticipating and preparing for potential security threats before they materialize will help in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and weaknesses ahead of time”. The statement said.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state by sefeating fifteen other aspirants in a landslide victory
The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, made the declaration on Monday morning in Akure, the state capital.
Ododo said Aiyedatiwa clinched the APC ticket with a total of 48,569 votes followed by his closest rival, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with 14,865 votes.
Below is a breakdown of the final results of the election.
Total number of voters – 117922
Total number of accredited voters – 95,178
Total votes cast – 95178
Invalid – Nil
Jimi Odimayo – 490
Omogoroye Judith – 115
Lucky Aiyedatiwa – 48,569
Isaacs Kekemeke – 1045
Soji Ehinlanwo – 492
Olugbenga Edema – 395
Jimoh lbrahim – 9456
Adekojo Funmilayo – 529
Akinfolarin Samuel – – 15343
Wale Akinterinwa – 1952
Olusola Oke – 14,915
Olamide Ohunyeye – 424
Morayo Lebi – 290
Diran lyantan – 348
Prof Dayo Faduyile – 353
Ife Oyedele – 462
1: Ilaje LG
Lucky Aiyedatiwa 2,485
Wale Akinterinwa. 26
Olusola Oke. 2,511
Jimoh Ibrahim 589
2: Ile Oluji/Okeigbo
Jimoh Ibrahim: 282
AIYEDATIWA: 1225
WA: 474
3: Ondo West LG
Jimoh Ibrahim: 2668
Aiyedatiwa: 10610
4: Ese Odo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 298
Akinterinwa – 0
Oke – 147
Jimoh Ibrahim – 174
5: Owo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2,123
Akinterinwa – 345
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 192
6: Idanre LG
Aiyedatiwa – 1, 579
Akinterinwa – 119
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 120
7: AKOKO NORTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 664
Akinterinwa 135
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 505
8: AKOKO NORTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 5, 430
Akinterinwa 198
Oke 2, 721
Jimoh Ibrahim 728
9: AKOKO SOUTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 533
Akinterinwa 43
Oke 391
Jimoh Ibrahim 67
10: AKOKO SOUTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2, 747
Akinterinwa – 272
Oke – 415
Jimoh Ibrahim – 466
11: No results for IFEDORE LGA due to alleged violence
12: OSE LGA
Aiyedatiwa 1, 091
Akinterinwa 39
Oke 800
Jimoh Ibrahim 267
13: IRELE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 203
Akinterinwa 15
Oke 93
Jimoh Ibrahim 139
14: ODIGBO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 631
Akinterinwa 114
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 845
15: AKURE NORTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 860
Akinterinwa 177
Oke 1, 239
Jimoh Ibrahim 1, 606
16: AKURE SOUTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 3, 265
Akinterinwa 86
Oke 328
Jimoh Ibrahim 294
17 OKITIPUPA LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 622
Akinterinwa 27
Oke 1, 571
Jimoh Ibrahim 109
18: ONDO EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 4, 803
Akinterinwa 141
Oke 1, 171
Jimoh Ibrahim 406
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