By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has enjoined citizens of Kogi State to abhor the elements of division that characterized the 2023 Governorship electioneering campaigns but embrace unity, peace for the overall development of the state.
Ododo who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Ismail Isa, on the sideline of the 2024 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council in Lokoja, called on the opposition in the state to sheath their swords.
The governor said that the call was in line with the philosophy of his government to take governance back to the people and engage as much as possible with the consultative approach to governance.
He said that in a remarkable display of commitment to his campaign promises, and campaign mantra of unity, his government has made significant strides in unifying the state and engaging citizens in the governance process.
Ododo said his administration has prioritised consultation and community engagement, ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice in decision-making.
He said that a notable achievement is the unprecedented 3,000 appointments made in just seven months of his administration, all based on stakeholders’ input.
“We should embrace ourselves more as citizens of Kogi State so that all the elements of division that characterized, especially the electioneering campaign last year would be put behind us.
“We should begin to break those barriers and let them not affect our development as a state. Until today if you look at the record of things that have been done, policies, programmes and projects that have been executed, you will see that that philosophy has been sustained.
He declared that the resolve was to lend credence to his stance on qualitative governance, community engagement and unity of the people of the State.
“You would have seen that there is a lot of balance in appointments compared with what we used to have in the past.
The government has also surpassed the affirmative action benchmark of 35 per cent to 40 per cent of elective positions held by women. This deliberate effort promotes gender balance and empowerment.
“We have flagged off township roads projects in about eight Local Governments already and by October when we shall be flagging off in the Central Senatorial District, we will be covering at least one road project in each of the 21 Local Government Areas” he said.
He said that Infrastructure development remains another area of focus, with township road projects already flagged off in eight Local Governments and aiming to cover at least one road project in each of the 21 Local Government Areas by October.
Ododo also hinted that his government has approved contract for revitalization of closed or abandoned 70 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across the state describing it as a groundbreaking initiative set to improve healthcare access in rural areas across the state. (Ends)