Why Former Auditor-General, Ododo, Ticks all the Boxes as Yahaya Bello’s Successor, by Ozumi Abdul
Nigerians are currently experiencing what I would like to call a “political breather,” smarting from the just-concluded 2023 general elections. But electorate in The Confluence State are also bracing up for the Kogi State governorship election slated for November 11, 2023.
The guber poll will undoubtedly pitch the state’s political juggernauts and heavyweights against one another. Theirs will be a ‘Rofo rofo’ fight ignited by an unyielding bid to take over the baton of leadership from Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello as Kogi’s Governor.
So far, 17 aspirants jostling to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State were two weeks ago screened, and thus certified to contest in the party’s primary billed for 14 April, 2023.
Those who had thrown their hats and hearts into the race, matched action with words by picking forms and screened, are the incumbent Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Abdulkareem Mohammed Jamiu; the incumbent Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Edward David Onoja; the Deputy Publicity Secretary of the APC, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka; a serving Senator, Yakubu Oseni; and son of the late former governor of Kogi State, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.
Others include Accountant General of the state, Alhaji Jubril Momoh; the Auditor General of Kogi State, Mallam Yakubu Yusuf Okala; the State Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris; lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi; former minister of State for Labour and Employment in Buhari’s first term, Prof Stephen Ocheni; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftiancy Affairs, Salami Momodu Ozigi; lawyer and politician, Halima Alfa; Kogi State Auditor-General for Local Government, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo; GM, Business Development (FCT/North) at eTranzact; Jimoh Adebanjo; and Chairman/CEO of Hamif Real Estate Nigeria Ltd, Chief Friday Idachaba.
Aside this number of aspirants from the ruling APC, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the last count has nine aspirants who picked the party’s nomination forms for the November 11 election, including the party’s flagbearer in the last governorship election in the state, Musa Wada.
Even though the opposition PDP believes it will reclaim power eight years after, the reality is that the party is in shambles, and seriously affected by the internal wrangling at its NWC.
This is evident in the bickering between Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor, and Senator Dino Melaiye, who is believed to be the preferred candidate of the party’s presidential candidate in last February presidential election.
This thus implies that the PDP won’t be a match for the ruling APC in the state during the gubernatorial contest, as the party has ran out of steam and time to put its troubled house together before it can mount a serious challenge to unseat APC.
So having established this, all eyes would definitely be on the ruling APC, and who emerges as its flag bearer out of the 17 aspirants that have expressed their interest in the race, by virtue of purchasing forms and getting screened.
Yes, undoubtedly it portends good omens for our burgeoning democracy to have large number of candidates vying for a democratic position as sensitive and humongous as governorship election.
However, anybody who is abreast of the over a decade long mismanagement of resources by the then PDP-led successive administrations in the state, before the coming on board of the Governor Yahaya Bello’s New Direction administration would easily agree with me that this is not the best time to start tossing the dice of gambling in search for a worthy successor to Governor Bello. The Confluence State needs a visionary leader who will come in and consolidate on the achievements of GYB.
As such, it is imperative for all the stakeholders in Kogi, who truly have the state at heart, and desirous of consolidating the progress recorded by Governor Bello’s administration to ditch their personal, religious and tribal differences. They should unanimously and perfectly strive to put the round peg in a round hole.
Talking of the 17 aspirants interested in Governing Kogi under the banner of APC, one stands out. He is Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, whose leadership qualities and pedigree are unrivaled. Ododo, verily, is the most competent among the lot who can help move the state to an enviable height.
He stands out as a guber aspirant by virtue of him ticking all the boxes of an emerging modern-day political administrator. The immediate-past Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government’s phenomenal acumen, and accomplishments without iota of doubts is matchless,when juxtaposed with the other aspirants jostling for the occupancy of the Luggard House.
Alhaji Ododo is immensely endowed with an intellectual acumen that has seen him effectively manage people and wealth for many years.
He has been constantly and continually giving back to the people at all levels since the beginning of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration, endearing him to be one of the key players of this New Direction administration.
Ododo is an amalgamation, homogenization, fusion and synthesis of administrative acumen, courage, compassion, organization, financial wizardry and clear development thoughts.
In fact, he remains the darling of several Kogi people, despite his taciturn predisposition of not blowing his ambition trumpet.
He is without a poster or employing social media warriors to advance his political course.
His name has been eternally etched in the minds of people to succeed the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello, especially with his recently built magnificent hospital to take quality medicare to his people, his provision of water for various communities and his provision of health interventions.
The ultramodern hospital which he built at Upogoro in Okene Local Government Area was well equipped to serve the people of the area.
In his usual selfless and humble manner, Alhaji Usman Ododo built the hospital and entrusted it in the hands of the State Government to manage.
Ododo is a highly detribalized person who understands the tribal and religious complexities of the state, the particular emotional traits, intelligence and peculiarity that have so far stand out Ododo’s boss, Governor Yahaya Bello from his predecessors, who allegation of nepotism and lopsidedness of appointments in favour of a particular tribal extraction marred their individual administrations.
If Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former Lagos state governor could lay the foundations, footprints and models of the Lagos state’s today thriving economy, human-centric city and modern infrastructure and effective governance, then Kogi state can as well replicate same by ensuring Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo consolidates and continue with the New Direction mandate and mantra of this outgoing Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
Governor Yahaya Bello’s name may not be on the ballot in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, but with Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo properly positioned to succeed him as the next governor of Kogi state to continue his developmental strides, his name (Bello) will outlive his administration and place the state amongst the comity of developed states in the country.
Ozumi Abdul is a journalist and staff writer at PRNIGERIA and can be reached via [email protected]
