By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has advised electorate in kogi state to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo in the November 11,2023 governorship election in the state.
The advice, he said, became necessary to enable the state government be on the same page with the federal government in the implementation of his 8-point agenda.
Tinubu gave the advice on Sunday while flagging off Kogi APC Governorship Campaign in Lokoja, represented by his Vice President, Sen.Kashim Shettima.
He added,”For the purpose of continuity and consolidation of Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s administration and to be in alliance with the federal government, it has become necessary for the people of kogi to ally with the government at centre”.
The president said that kogi state, being one of the frontier states in the northern part of Nigeria, could not afford to be hostile to the government at the centre.
He added that for the people of the state to get intimacy with his 8-point agenda and benefit from the rich natural resources to which the state is endowed with, it was absolutely essential for them to vote for Ododo whom he described as a patriot to make that a reality.
Tinubu told the mammoth crowd at the event that his government had approved contract for the reconstruction of Lokoja-Ganaja road, assuring that the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene and Kabba-Ilorin roads would also receive the attention of his administration .
He said the federal government appointed the son of the state, from one of the prominent families in the state, Prince Shaubu Abubakar Audu, to promote the interest of the state and to see to the completion of Ajaokuta steel project.
Tinubu said the need to complete the Ajaokuta Steel project,which he noted had reach 80 percent, is in the 8-point agenda of his government, adding that on completion, the project would employ 500,000 workers among other benefits.
In an address of welcome, the governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello said his government had laid solid foundation in terms of human capital development, infrastructure, security, improved revenue generation, healthcare delivery among others.
Governor, who thanked the people of the state for the opportunity given his administration to achieve much for them, said the state needed somebody who learnt through the robe to come and build on the solid foundation laid by his government.
The governor urged the electorate to vote for Ododo, overwhelmingly, on November 11,2023, stressing that his government “has no ethnic agenda but kogi development agenda.”
The governor, who disclosed that the state government had commenced distribution of palliatives to cushion the effect of subsidy removal,assured the people of “mother of palliative next week.”
The National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, commended Bello for the achievements of his government for the people in the past 7 and a half years.
He also called on the electorate to cast their votes for Ododo’s electoral victory, come November 11, to enable him continue from where Governor Bello would stop.
In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, thanked Governor Bello, who he describe as his brother and mentor, for ensuring the participation of youths in the governance of the state.
He promised the people that if given the mandate, his agenda, would focus on education, agriculture, rural development, security and healthcare delivery among others,to be dedicated for the development of the state, devoid of ethnic inclination.
Our correspondent reports that APC members from the 21 local government areas of the state, those of the National Working Committee of the party, some members of the National Assembly and other political stakeholders attended the event.
The Chairman,Nigerian Governors’ forum,Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRaza of kwara state,the the Deputy Governor of kogi state,Chief Edward Onoja, Ododo’s running mate in the guber election,Mr.Joel Oyibo also attended the flag off.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of the flag of APC to Ododo by the National Chairman of the party, Dr.Abdullahi Ganduje, ably supported by Governor Bello.
The Reporters gathered that 18 political parties fielded candidate each for the election.
Our correspondent further reports that the occasion attracted the attention of petty and small scale businesses owners who used the opportunity to make brisk business.
According to INEC authorities,over 1.9 million eligible voters will participate in the November 11 election in kogi state.