Tag: Ododo

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State is one of the lucky men his age that can still boast of living mothers. But that would not have been without the benevolence of a medical doctor that took it upon himself many years ago to save the life of Ododo’s mother at a point she was only a whispering distance away from the grave.

It was in 1997 when the then poor woman fell sick and all hope seemed lost as her blood level dipped to a paltry 19 per cent. Ododo, then only a secondary school student, as well as his siblings were helpless as they had no way of raising the money needed for their mother’s treatment at Olayemi’s private hospital at Ateba, Agassa, Okene Local Government Area, Kogi State.

Then came help from the least expected quarters. While doctors are known to be strict when it comes to advanced payment for the treatment of patients, the proprietor of the hospital, Dr. Ayo Olayemi, took it upon himself to give Ododo’s mother the needed treatment and rescue his mother from the jaw of death.

Dr. Olayemi’s remarkable gesture about 27 years ago became one of the highlights of the flag off ceremony of the distribution of medical equipment/consumables to health facilities in Kogi State in Lokoja, the state capital last week as Governor Ododo caught sight of Olayemi, the current Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Hospitals Management Board, Lokoja.

An emotional Ododo was virtually in tears as he sang the praise of the man that gave him one of life’s most cherished gifts at the occasion.

Governor Ododo said: “My mother is still alive today because of you (Olayemi). I don’t know how to appreciate you. What you did to save my mother’s life is a thing that will linger in my mind for a lifetime.

“Dr. Olayemi’s actions did not only save my mother’s life, it also instilled hope and gratitude in our family.

“His selflessness and expertise did not only restore our faith in humanity, it also serves as a testament to the power of kindness and the importance of accessible health care.

“This event was in his private hospital at Ateba, Agassa.

 “I will always be grateful for his help and inspired by his example to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”

Ododo, whose voice trembled with emotion as he spoke, said he feels like crying each time he sets his eyes on the medical doctor.

Read Also: Ondo faults AGF’s suit at Supreme Court on LGs autonomy

Reacting to Governor Ododo’s eulogy, Dr. Olayemi said he had forgotten about the gesture before he was reminded of it by the governor.

He said: “Honestly, until the governor recalled the incident, I did not remember because I had extended such gestures to countless people.

“By my training, it is about saving life first, not monetary consideration.

“When the governor recalled that particular incident, it came back fresh like yesterday.

“For all the years that I had related with him in government, it never for once crossed my mind that he was that young boy whose mother was rushed into my clinic more than 25 years ago.

“I am happy that Mama is still alive.

“It is even more heart-warming that my little gesture went a long way to keep her alive, and most importantly, that the gesture is still being appreciated.”

•Kogi governor hails President for ensuring judiciary’s liberty

Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has reached out to opposition figures in the state, including the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11 governorship election, Murtala Ajaka, to support his efforts to develop the state.

Ododo, who was reacting to Monday’s judgment of the election tribunal, which upheld his election, said the time had come for all to work together for the benefit of Kogi State and its people.

The governor dedicated his victory at the tribunal to Kogi electorate who he said voted massively for him during the election.

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Ododo praised President Bola Tinubu for not interfering in the affairs of the Judiciary, which the governor described as the last hope of the common man.

He praised the tribunal for doing justice in the petition against his election.

The governor said his victory at the tribunal would encourage him to work hard in bringing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Kogi state.

Ododo said Kogi State is still mourning the death of two students of the state’s university who were kidnapped and murdered by gunmen.

The governor said he had wished they were alive to celebrate his victory with him as they also voted for him during the election.

He assured Kogi residents that the murderers of the students would be arrested and brought to justice.

…hails Tinubu for ensuring judicial independence

Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo, has reached out to opposition figures in the state, including the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11 governorship election, Murtala Ajaka to support his efforts to develop the state.

Ododo, who was reacting to Moday’s judgment of the election tribunal, which upheld his election, said the time has come for all to work together for the benefit of Kogi state and its people.

The governor dedicated his victory at the tribunal to the Kogi electorate, who he said voted massively for him during the election.

Read Also: Bayelsa, Kogi governorship polls’ disputes: Tribunal rules Diri, Ododo validly elected

Ododo commended President Bola Tinubu for not interfering in the affairs of the Judiciary, which the governor said, is the last hope of the common man.

He said that the courageous judgment of the tribunal has proven that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man as he praised the Tribunal for doing justice in the petition against his election.

The governor said his victory at the tribunal would encourage him to work hard in bringing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Kogi state.

Ododo, however, said the state is still mourning the death of two students of the Kogi State University who were kidnapped and murdered by gunmen.

He said he had wished they were alive to celebrate his victory with him, saying they also voted for him during the election.

The governor assured that the murderers of the students would be arrested and brought to book.

…wants opposition to join him move state forward

 Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commended the decision of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld his election as the duly elected governor of the state.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday, May 27, Governor Ododo dedicated the victory at the tribunal to the people of the state.

The governor, in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 28, by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah, noted that the decision of the tribunal that upheld his election further affirmed his conviction that God alone gives power to whomever He wishes at any point in life, adding that the ruling of the tribunal is a call for more dedication to the service of the people of Kogi state.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the independence of the judiciary, Governor Ododo stressed that the courts remain the hope of the common man and the bastion of justice, equity, and fairness that sustains democracy anywhere in the world.

Read Also: Bayelsa, Kogi governorship polls’ disputes: Tribunal rules Diri, Ododo validly elected

The governor called on opposition parties in the state to join hands with him to ensure rapid development of the state in the interest of unity and peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.

Governor Ododo was elected the fifth executive governor of Kogi state, having scored 446, 237 votes to defeat his closest challenger Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who scored 259, 052 votes in the November 11, 2023 Governorship election.

The SDP candidate, Muritala Ajaka and candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) Olayinka Braimoh and Abdullahi Yunusa of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) subsequently challenged the election of Governor Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in separate petitions.

After months of intense legal battles, the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday affirmed Governor Ododo of the APC as the duly elected governor of Kogi state thereby dismissing the petitions of Muritala Ajaka of the SDP, Olayinka Braimoh of AA and Abdullahi Yunusa of PRP for lack of merit. 

• Victory will spur me to serve Bayelsa better, says governor
• Sylva, Ajaka head to Appeal Court
• Accept decision in good faith, Audu urges Ajaka

The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which sat in Abuja, has upheld the victory of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 election.

The three-member tribunal, led by Ado Birnin-Kudu, held that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, failed to prove their allegations that the election was marred by irregularities, manipulations and non-compliance with relevant laws.

In the lead judgment, Birnin-Kudu said the election “was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act”.

The tribunal held that the petition was bereft of substance and accordingly dismissed.

It also held that all the evidence filed before it were incompetent and full of inconsistencies.

The tribunal upheld the submissions of the respondents that the allegations of forgery raised in the petition were pre-election related, which ought to have been raised 14 days after the documents were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Reacting to the tribunal’s judgment, the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described it as a solid affirmation of the popular mandate the electorate in Kogi State gave the governor.

In another judgment yesterday, the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which also sat in Abuja, affirmed the re-election of Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led three-member tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the last year’s election, Timipre Sylva.

The tribunal, in a unanimous decision, held that the petitioners failed to adduce credible evidence to establish any of the allegations they raised against the outcome of the Bayelsa State governorship poll.

It struck out all the additional proof of evidence as well as statements on oath of some of the witnesses that testified for the petitioners.

The tribunal held that the electoral law expressly provides that an election petition must be filed not later than 21 days after the result of an election has been declared.

It held that such a petition must, at the time it was filed, be accompanied with written statements of all the intended witnesses.

It added that the decision by Sylva and his party to file their additional proof of evidence and statement on oath of witnesses, long after they had filed the petition, was “tantamount to a surreptitious attempt to amend the case of the petitioners.

The tribunal dismissed the allegation that Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo tendered forged university degree certificate and NYSC Exemption Certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest the election, among others.

Read Also: JUST IN: Tribunal upholds Ododo’s election as Kogi Gov

Reacting to the court verdict, Governor Diri said the victory would propel him to serve the state better.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor dedicated the tribunal victory to the people of the state.

Also, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has advised the SDP governorship candidate in last year’s election in Kogi State, Marital Ajaka, to accept the affirmation of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as the duly elected governor of Kogi State in good faith.

In his congratulatory message by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, the minister described the tribunal’s verdict as a testament to the choice of the people.

Reacting to the tribunal’s judgment, Sylva held a meeting with elders and stakeholders of the party.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, he said: “We are not satisfied with the decision of the tribunal. But this is just a court of first instance. After meeting with the elders and critical stakeholders of our great party, the APC, we directed our legal team to seek justice for Bayelsa at the Supreme Court.”Ajaka has also said he would seek justice in the Appeal Court over the tribunal’s judgnment.

Gov. Usman Ododo on Saturday expressed determination to rescue the nine abducted students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Kogi safe and sound from their abductors.

The governor made the pledge when he visited the university campus on an assessment of the security situation in the wake of the security breach on the campus that led to the abduction of the students.

Bandits had invaded the institution on Thursday night and abducted nine students, whose whereabouts still remained unknown as the assailants yet to make contact with the management of the institution.

Ododo, who was taking round the surrounding by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulraman Asipita, vowed to secure the safe return of the students from their abductors.

“This visit is part of my concern for what happened on Thursday and to assure parents and management that every necessary step including non-kinetic measures have been activated to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.

“I hereby wish to assure members of the university community of efforts of my administration to improve the existing security architecture on the campus.

“We will do whatever it takes to return all the abducted students to the university and to reunite them with their families and friends.

“It is our duty as a government to protect lives and property in all parts of the state. We are prepared to protect the students and that is why we allowed the students to stay on the campus.

“It’s unfortunate that in spite of installed CCTV cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the university campus the abductors still struck.

“Our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off and this can only be attributed to sabotage by internal collaborators,” he lamented.

According to him, security agencies are on their heels and that investigation is ongoing to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

He disclosed that there would be regular review of the operation as more facts emerge from the investigation.

“I am here to see things myself; to assess the situation and also to review the ongoing operation that will ensure the safe return of the students to the school. What is most important now is how to rescue our students unhurt.

“We have the right information at our disposal but we can’t put all that out in the media. I want the parents and students to be calm as we are making concerted effort to secure the return of the students,” he said.

Ododo commended the security agencies for their gallantry in minimizing the impact of the attack by preventing the attackers from gaining access to the university hostels.

“Nothing will be spared to bring back the students and to prevent a repeat of such unfortunate attack on the university campus and elsewhere in the state, ” Ododo assured.
(NAN)

Governor Usman Ododo, the chairman of the seven-member committee overseeing the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, has announced that voting will resume today, Sunday, April 21, in 13 wards within the Okitipupa local government area.

The Kogi state governor, in a statement, said the election was not held in the 13 wards due to the late arrival of materials.

Read Also: Ododo commends turnout in Ondo APC Gov primary

The statement said: “Having received reports of the primary election from the 203 Wards in the 18 Local Governments of Ondo State, the Primary election Committee has decided that election will be conducted in all the 13 Wards of Okitipupa Local Government with total validated registered members of 9,515 because of validated reports that the exercise did not hold in the Local government due to late arrival of materials and personnel as a result of logistics challenges.

“Election in Okitipupa Local Government shall be conducted at 12 noon on Sunday 21st April 2024. The final collation of the results will be done thereafter.”