27th January, 2024
……Lokoja agog as Ododo takes over
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
A new dawn in the governance of Kogi will unfold today, Saturday, 27 January, as Alhaji Usman Ododo will take over from Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state.
Ododo was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC to replace Bello at the governorship election held in November 11, 2023.
Ododo polled 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052, according to results from the 21 local government areas (LGAs) of the state as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
However, the victory of Ododo in the governorship election is being challenged by his closest challenger in the election, Ajaka.
But this will not stop the former Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi from taking over from Yahaya Bello on Saturday.
When he takes over today, Ododo will be the second person from Central senatorial district of Kogi to occupy the Lord Lugard House.
Bello, who is also from Kogi Central broke the string of monopoly of the governorship of the state by the East Senatorial District in 2015.
Already, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital is agog as guests flood into the town from all parts of the country for the inauguration of Ododo.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command has warned political thugs and criminals to steer clear of the venue of the inauguration of Ododo.
Bethrand Onuoha, Kogi commissioner of police in a statement issued in Lokoja by the command’s spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya vowed that security operatives will deal deal decisively with any political thug or miscreant, who wants to disrupt the peace of the state.
“This warning became imperative in view of intelligence that revealed that some hoodlums are planning to attack guests/visitors, who will be attending the inaugural ceremony in the state.
“It further revealed that the planned attack is aimed at disrupting the peace and thereby create disharmony among the citizens of Kogi.”
He warned that any attempt to disrupt the already existing peace in the state would be met with serious resistance.
According to him, the police and other security agencies are ready to deal with any miscreants.
He, however, advised those who have issues to ventilate them through legal process as any act that could lead to break down of law and order in the state would not be tolerated.
The CP urged all law-abiding people of the state to continue to collaborate with the police and other security agencies by providing credible and useful information on any suspicious person or act.