The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Usman Ododo

  • Usman Ododo  gears up

    Usman Ododo  gears up

    Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo is one blessed by God.

    Highly cerebral and witty, he has never striven for anything in life as he believes all power belongs to God and he gives and takes.

    He sees life from a different perspective and believes only service to humanity is a way to show appreciation to his creator for all he has done, marking his sojourn into the murky waters of politics.

    Many often ask the question: why a gentleman like him ventured into politics? A game perceived to be too dirty for someone of his personae.

    But with a smile on his face, he often tells those who wished to listen that politics was an act of service for him and one thing he had always wanted was an avenue to serve his people and lead them to greater future.

    From inception as governor, Ododo he swung into action, announcing his cabinet members almost immediately. He set out his blueprint to further put the state on the path of prosperity in terms of infrastructural development.

    Read Also: Army probes attacks on soldiers at Abuja Banex plaza

    While he does not like to court media attention like many of his peers, he loves to shut up his detractors with his achievements. Ododo works round the clock to bring the dividend of democracy to his people.

    At the celebration of his 100 days in office, when he listed his achievements, many were stunned at what he achieved within a short time.

    According to sources, Ododo has invested heavily in agriculture, clearing over 8000 hectares of farmland, conducted headcount of farmers for the allocation of fertilisers and other farming aids, divided the state into sectors in terms of crop production, creating strategic stores for farm produce across the state, plans to sign up as the single largest off-taker of agricultural produce from farmers in the state among others.

  • Kogi attack: Ododo expresses shock over killings, vows to prevent reccurrence

    Kogi attack: Ododo expresses shock over killings, vows to prevent reccurrence

    • Victims seek govt’s help to return home

    Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has sympathised with the Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area following the death of 25 persons when bandits attacked the community.

    Ododo regretted the ugly dimension that communal clashes between people in the area have assumed over time. He promised immediate intervention by his administration to forestall a reccurrence.

    He said: “I am assuring the citizens that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will be brought to justice soon. Already, security agencies are on the trail of the assailants.”

    Already, the governor has sent a delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Joel Oyibo-Salifu, on a condolence visit to the area.

    According to him, the kinetic and non-kinetic measures deployed by the government has led to relative stability in Omala Local Government Area until the recent escalation of the conflict. He further promised to deploy a detachment of the recently established Metropolitan Quick Response to the area to complement existing security architecture in Omala.

    Read Also; FG funded 3rd Mainland bridge repairs, says Umahi

    Displaced persons have pleaded with the Federal and state governments to assist them return home after Thursday’s attack.

    Some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), made the appeal to newsmen who visited them at Bagaji-Odo community on Saturday.

    Mrs. Patience Akauwu (67) said life had become tough and hard for them having lost their farm produce to the attacks.

    “We have been displaced and suffering here in Bagaji-Odo due to lack of food and conducive place to stay. All we are asking for is the Federal and state governments to assist in providing adequate security for us to to return home,” she pleaded.

    Also, Joshua Salifu, a farmer, said his wife and children were still missing and pleaded with government to help find them.

    According to him, when the bandits attacked between 3:30pm and 4pm on Thursday, everyone began to run helter skelter.

    “At that time, we were running for our dear lives. I’m here in Bagaji-Odo not knowing where my wife and children are. I took part in the burial of the 25 persons killed, but my wife or any of my children was not among them,” he lamented.

    Salifu said he was afraid to go back to the village to search for his loved ones.

    Another IDP, Paul Achabo, a farmer, begged the government to help set up military presence in Agojeju-Odo community, a border village between Benue and Kogi. Achabo said unless there was adequate security in the community, they could not go back for fear that the bandits might return.

    The District Head of Bagaji-Odo, Chief David Akpa, also pleaded with the government to come to assist the IDPs and affected communities

    “This is because we don’t have the kind of sophisticated weapons the bandits have to face them. God knows we have no problem with the herdsmen around us, but why they did this to our people we don’t understand,” he lamented.

    The attack is reportedly a retaliation for the alleged killing of six herders by the locals.