The Big 33 that Came with a Blessing - Welcome Home, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo »

By Abdul Mohammed Lawal.

The past week has been one filled with many highlights for the people of Kogi State, and its name has been trending across the media space. For many, the most prominent of them was Kogi State commemorating its 33rd anniversary. However, we did not just celebrate the birth of the “Confluence State” but also a remarkable triple victory for the State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) family, that took us a step further in the political evolution of Kogi State. Without doubt, the journey that began in 1991 has been nothing short of transformative, and this year, we are blessed with the Supreme Court’s affirmation of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, as the Executive Governor of Kogi State.

The creation of Kogi State was a celebrated milestone, but the true beauty lay in the unification of the diverse and vibrant cultures of the Igala, Ebira, and Okun people under one administrative umbrella. From a worthy journey over the years, through an earlier experiment with democracy, almost a decade of military administration, and full-time democratic rule since 1999, Kogi has grown from a nascent state grappling with developmental challenges to a political heavyweight in the North Central region. Our people have worked tirelessly to build a state characterised by unity in diversity, prosperity, and great ambition.

Since 2016, under the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the APC-led government has steered Kogi State towards unprecedented growth. His “New Direction” agenda focused on security, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and laid a solid foundation for sustainable development. The achievements of the past eight years are evident in the transformed security and safety landscape for Kogites, improved road networks, a rejuvenated educational sector with success stories of revamping old institutions and establishing new ones, and a healthcare system that has become a model for other states.

The APC’s vision for Kogi State has always been one of transformation, where every citizen has the opportunity to become a principal stakeholder in developmental decision-making. The reforms introduced in the civil service, the empowerment and inclusion of women and youth in politics and leadership, and the emphasis on accountability in governance have set Kogi State on a path to greatness. It is no wonder that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, disrupted the existing status quo and built a new generation of leaders with his progressive generals. He made his successes not just the work of one administration, but a collective effort that included every Kogite who believed in the possibility of a better tomorrow.

While Kogi celebrated its 33rd anniversary on 27th August 2024, I was still deep in my celebration of the continuity of the vision of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, with the apex court’s validation of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s “Continuity and Consolidation” mandate. From a progressive perspective and that of an outsider who understands the “GYB’s Leadership Ideologies”, the victory was more than just a legal triumph for the APC; it was for the entire state. It reaffirmed the faith of Kogites in democracy and the rule of law and served as confirmation that the people’s voice, expressed through the ballot, has been heard and respected. This puts an end to a long period when propaganda thrived and ushers in a time to ask realistic questions.

The leadership transition from the “New Direction” mandate to the “Continuity and Consolidation” administration represents the consolidation of the gains Kogi has made over the past eight years. His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has been a key figure in the “New Direction” team and an outstanding success story of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s revolutionary efforts. His ascendancy to the governorship promises a continuation of the policies and projects that have transformed Kogi State. He was nurtured within a system that works, and he is currently living up to those progressive ideologies that shaped him. The court victory is a sign that the progress made will not only continue, but will be built upon.

All I can do is lend my voice through writing, so I join Kogites in welcoming His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, back to the “Confluence State”. I do so with great optimism because of the excellent leadership he has showcased over the past seven months. The dream for a better Kogi State is big, and the challenges ahead are also formidable, but so is our resolve. With the APC and His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo at the helm, Kogi State is poised to reach new heights. The journey we began 33 years ago is far from over, and with leaders like His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello shaping the course, we are confident that the best is yet to come.

This moment is an opportunity for all Kogites to reflect on our shared history, the progress we have made together, and what we stand to become. It is a blessed time to celebrate the strength of our communities, the richness of our culture, and the doggedness of our people from, the East to the Central and West. It is also a time to look forward to the future with hope and determination above anything that divides us, knowing that we are led by a government that truly understands the needs and aspirations of its people. We are stronger as an entity if the only agenda we project is that of Kogi State, and those of individuality will not stand.

Congratulations to His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on your well-deserved victory, and on celebrating your first Kogi anniversary as its number one citizen. The people of Kogi State have spoken, and their choice has been affirmed. I am confident that under his leadership, Kogi State will continue to prosper, and the legacy of the “New Direction” administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will be preserved and enhanced.

Congratulations to the visionary, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Your dreams and our hopes for the “New Kogi State” are definitely in safe hands, and your stories will be told.

And to the average Kogite, let us all come together in unity and purpose to support our leaders in their efforts to build a Kogi State of our dreams that is prosperous, peaceful, and progressive. Let us continue to work together to ensure that the gains of the past are not lost, but are instead the foundation upon which we build a bettered future. We can achieve it better and faster through togetherness.

Welcome home, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. Your victory is Kogi’s victory. Your success is the success of every Kogite. Together, we will continue to move Kogi State forward and embrace our blessings. Kogi State can only get better from here!