By Emmanuel Mogbede
Usman Ododo, the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC in November Kogi Governorship election has promised to develop the state for the benefit of the people if he is elected.
Ododo said he already has a blueprint and development plan that he will use to develop all parts of the state if he is successful in the November 11 governorship election.
The APC governorship said this on Friday in Abuja when he visited Mr Tunde Ayeni, a business mogul who hails from Kogi, as part of his ongoing consultations with key stakeholders in the state.
Ododo explained that his loyalty to Gov. Yahaya Bello, the state’s incumbent governor, was because of his undisputed love for Kogi.
He said he had seen Bello forgo his personal comfort to tackle challenges confronting the state at different times.
“I have learnt from the best and I am still learning from him. I have seen him skip sleep many times just to see that Kogi is safe. I have seen him create a conducive environment for industries to thrive. I have seen his commitment to the progress and prosperity of our dear state.
“I cannot afford to betray the confidence and trust in me. I have come to see you today because you are one of the reasons Nigerians respect Kogi.
“Your experience and expertise will guide us to do well,” Ododo’ said.
He noted that the many wins of the state, economically, which had been echoed by respected institutions like the World Bank, were proofs of the turnaround the state witnessed in the past years.
He assured the people of Kogi that he would make them proud by enthroning development.
Ayeni in his remarks, described Ododo as a detribalised man whose only interest was the greatness of Kogi.
He prayed for Ododo’s success and urged him to go about his campaign peacefully, adding that he should focus on developing the state if elected as its next governor.
Ayeni commended the APC candidate for not seeing election as a do or die affair, saying that no election was worth the blood of any individual.
“Go about your campaign peacefully and win the trust of the people, when you win, make sure you focus on development, what we are interested in is the development of our dear state,”Ayeni said..
In his remarks, the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and also the runner up in the APC governorship primary, Deedat Ozigi, thanked Ayeni for his contributions to the development of Kogi and Nigeria generally.
Also, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, described Ayeni as a detribalised giant whose wealth of experience would help shape Ododo”s administration from January 2024 if elected..
He thanked the finance and power guru for aligning with Ododo and his team.
“You are a great Nigerian who doesn’t believe in division, we will continue to respect you as our leader and one of Kogi best exports to the world,” he said.
He called on Ayeni to continue to support Ododo”s candidacy.
“Some people are born humble, some learn humility while some are humbled by circumstances. Ododo is born humble and he will listen to eminent indigenes of Kogi in leading the state,” Fanwo said.
(NAN)
