The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has called on Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi to improve security and promote infrastructural development.

Mr Audu made the call in a congratulatory message to Mr Ododo in Abuja on Sunday for his inauguration as the state’s fifth governor.

He urged Mr Ododo to consolidate the achievements of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, and focus on building sustainable peace and unity for the state’s progress.

The minister, the director-general of the Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign council, expressed confidence that the governor would take Kogi to greater heights.

“As the director-general of the Kogi APC governorship campaign council, I was confident that you would emerge victorious despite all forms of political intrigues that were playing out.

“Today, we celebrate that victory, which marks the beginning of an era of continuity and consolidation of the successful eight-year tenure of former Gov. Yahaya Bello,” he said.

Mr Ododo was sworn in as the elected governor of Kogi along with his deputy, Joel Oyibo, on Saturday at Muhammadu Buhari Square, Lokoja.

Messrs Ododo and Salifu were elected on the platform of the APC on November 11, 2023, during the Kogi off-cycle governorship election.

The governor was declared the winner, having scored 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, who polled 259,052 votes. 

(NAN)