Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development, unity, and grassroots empowerment.

Mr Ododo spoke on Wednesday in Lokoja when he hosted critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Kogi East Senatorial District, who were on a courtesy visit to his office.

He thanked the stakeholders for their visit and solidarity during the passing of his father, Momoh Ododo, describing their presence as “a show of unity and shared purpose.”

“We must begin to see one another as one family. Our strength as a people lies in our unity and collective resolve to develop Kogi-East,” he said.

The governor noted that despite the zone’s rich endowment in cashew, coal, and other mineral resources, its people had not fully benefited due to “interests and external exploitation.”

“Every year, over ₦86 billion worth of cashew leaves Kogi-East without commensurate impact on our people.

“We must take responsibility for our development rather than waiting for outsiders or the federal government,” he said.

Mr Ododo, who pledged his administration’s continued investment in rural infrastructure and education, reaffirmed free education in public primary and secondary schools.

He said that more roads across the nine local government areas in Kogi East had been penciled down for construction.

The governor appealed to stakeholders to send a list of internal roads that needed construction and rehabilitation for consideration.

He assured that indigenes of the oil-producing community of Ibaji would be included in the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission’s appointments.

According to him, there are also plans to fix the Ganaja Village-Bassa Road and many other roads in the zone without necessarily waiting for the federal government.

Mr Ododo commended the people of the zone for ensuring “the most peaceful election in the history of Kogi State” in 2023, despite their political differences, and urged them to sustain the peace for greater development.

Mr Ododo was presented with the NUT Golden Award of Excellence in Education by his deputy, Joel Salifu.

Earlier in his address on behalf of the delegation, Patrick Akpa commended Mr Ododo for his administration’s “landmark achievements” in education.

He said that, despite the zone’s poor showing in the last general elections, serious alignments and realignments were ongoing to reposition it for victory in future elections.

Presenting the resolutions of the stakeholders, Isaac Onuh pledged their “unalloyed loyalty and support” to the governor while commending the deputy governor for his leadership and initiative in fostering unity within the party.

The stakeholders also called for one major infrastructural project in each of the local governments that make up Kogi-East, including the Otuocha-Onyedega-Ibaji, Idah-Ajegwu, Ankpa-Abejukolo, Shintaku-Dekina, Ogbabo-Abocho-Ajiolo, Odolu-Oforachi-Idah, Ejule-Ala-Achokpa, and Ankpa-Imane-Okpo roads.

(NAN)