Tinubu Has Given Youths And Women Due Recognition, Ododo Declares, Urges Kogi Youths To Deliver In 2027
By Faith Adikeh
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has charged youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remain in their local government areas and mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Governor gave the charge during an interface with APC youth leaders in Lokoja, where he also reeled out major ongoing projects across the state and highlighted his administration’s achievements in security, infrastructure, and workers welfare.
Governor Ododo urged the youth leaders to take ownership of their local governments, saying their political world starts from home.
“Remain in your local government. Leave other local government for whoever that is there, because your ward is your local government,” Ododo said.
“Go door to door, tell them what President is doing, the ones he has done, the ones that are ongoing, and what he plans to do for our people. We should talk to them to vote for the President.”
Speaking on infrastructure, Governor Ododo disclosed that he has approved an extension for erosion control projects in the state, noting that design work is ongoing.
He said the entire Igala kingdom deserves a transmission station, adding that the state has already issued Certificates of Occupancy for the project and is only waiting for the groundbreaking.
According to Governor Ododo, the Ibaji road took one year and six months of study to ensure a lasting and sustainable design, with consultants engaged to observe two seasons, dry and wet.
“We thank God that contract has been awarded. On the 9th, which is Monday, we are going to flag off that road,” Ododo said.
“We don’t just jump into an issue because we have a President that is knowledgeable, that is experienced, and we are tapping from him. If you flag off any project without equipment on site, it’s just for the fun of it.”
He revealed that an agreement has been reached with CCECC, and the company has started moving equipment to site. He said the flag-off was extended to allow more equipment to arrive before mobilisation.
“After that, we go to Kabba-Bunu road, that Bunu road, flag it off. Then before that of Bassa, it’s planning. We are not doing it for anybody to praise us. We are doing it for ourselves,” he added.
Governor Ododo attributed the successes recorded against insecurity in the state to the support of President Tinubu.
“The issue of insecurity, without President’s support, the results we are achieving today would not have been possible. For the past six days now, the forest where they are hiding in the east, they now know that yes, we are working,” he said.
Reflecting on his eight years in the system as Auditor General for Local Government, Ododo recalled the financial challenges of the past when local governments needed N5.2 billion to pay salaries but received only N1.9 billion in allocation from the federation account.
He said the era of insecurity was high and was inherited by President Tinubu, but today salaries are paid as at when due, even when not due.
On subsidy removal, the Governor said the policy only benefited a few individuals in the past, but the value is now being felt through salary payments and projects across the state.
“Let me tell you, when they say subsidy, subsidy, let me explain to you, this subsidy is just few individuals that are benefiting. We are getting the value, that is why we are able to pay salary and projects here and there,” he said.
He urged the youths to visit the international market project in the state, noting that visitors were shocked at its standard. He recalled that a minister who visited thought it was a federal government project, but was told it is a state project supported by President
Ododo said it is time for Kogi youths to demand respect and stop allowing themselves to be used during elections and dumped afterwards.
“So please, it is high time we let people know that enough is enough. It is high time, because the name they are giving us up there is not good. They don’t value us. They feel they can always come at any time to use us and go back. It is no longer the issue,” he said.
He said the APC under President Tinubu is the only party and administration that has given due recognition to youths, the young generation and women.
“APC is the party that has recognized Kogi State. APC under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the only party and administration that has given due recognition to youth, young generation and women. So you don’t joke with such people. So let’s go out and work for ourselves. I’m ready to throw my support,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the cause of President Tinubu and the APC, saying nothing will change him.
“For me, I am very ready, I am very committed to the cause of President Tinubu ,APC, and nothing will change me. Because if I don’t do what I should do for the state, especially the youths, then I would have failed,” he said.
“I’m not afraid. In as far as we are doing the right thing, they can be complaining, they can be writing their petition. Their petition will not stop me not to take care of your welfare.”
In his remarks, the State APC Chairman Engineer Momoh Ezu Aliyu, commended the youths in the state for their resilience and support for the party, assuring Governor Ododo that the youths are ready to deliver overwhelmingly in the 2027 election.
He also described the emergence and inauguration of youth leaders across the state as a welcome development.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Aridaojo Anyebe, appreciated the Governor for his support and the enabling environment given to youths to participate in his administration. He assured the Governor of their full support in the 2027 polls.
He highlighted some of the administration’s interventions in the youth sector, including improved welfare support for students and scholarship opportunities, describing them as evidence of the Governor’s commitment to youth development..
Earlier, the APC Youth Leader, Buhari Lokoja, thanked God for preserving their lives and appreciated the people’s governor, whom he described as the chief servant of Kogi State and the flower boy, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
He said the Governor has charged them to go to the grassroots, which is where they belong, through sensitization on the developments and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo.
“And by the grace of God, as you all know, we are from the grassroots, so talking to our people in our own language is not an issue. Of course we will do that because that is the essence why we are youth leaders. We are not supportive, we are the structure of the party, and we are taking it seriously,” Buhari said.
He noted that as soon as we lose this election, it is like we are losing our job. I will not allow anything to happen to our job, because our leadership is statutory, it is four years, and we are in existence because APC is in government. So whatever that will make APC remain in government is what we are going to tell people, and of course what concerns the Nigerian citizen,” he said .
