By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in upcoming November 11, Governorship Election in Kogi has pledged to ensure completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company and run development driven government if elected.
Ododo gave the assurance on Tuesday in Lokoja while speaking during a “One Million Man March” organized by a group, “Renewed Vision for New Direction, Ododo/Oyibo 2023”, a campaign team working for the actualization of his governoship ambition.
The APC Governorship Candidate said if elected, he would pay serious attention the completion of Ajaokuta steel company.
He said he would achieve the feat by way of lobbying the President and National Assembly, in view of the enormous economic and employment generation potentials lurking in the sleeping steel giant.
”I am that person with requisite experience to represent the youths and women interest and you will not be disappointed,” he said, adding that his government will be development driven and people oriented.
Ododo also promised quality and effective healthcare delivery system, health insurance scheme as well as establishment of social welfare for the aged, indigents and Persons Leaving with disability.
On the mode of his electioneering campaigns, Ododo promised to embark on issue based campaigns devoid of sentiments, violence and intimidation of voters and implored other political parties and their candidates to shun campaign of calumny and character assassination.
“I will consolidate on the gains of democracy already put in place by Governor Yahaya Bello. I will also run an open administration and all inclusive governance devoid of tribe, political and religious differences if elected as governor of Kogi state”, he further assured.
The event which started with a road walk from Zone 8 Junction, Lokoja, and ended at Muhammadu Buhari Square, attracted unprecedented crowd who trooped in their thousands to drum support for the victory of the APC Governorship candidate in the November 11, guber polls.
Also speaking at the event, Leader of the organizing group, Hon. Simeon Balogun said that the aim of the project is geared towards the promotion of APC as the only worthy and most popular political party in Kogi state.
“We will not relent in the propagation of the gospel of Ododo/Oyibo Candidacy to the admiration of the people across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Ododo’s support is a movement. We don’t have a roll call. We don’t need to know each other. But we believe in our agenda, which is to elect Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo as Kogi State Governor come 2023.
“We took time to study Ahmed before we accepted him. He was the immediate past Accountant-General and he is a very prudent and transparent person”, Balogun said.
In his goodwill message, the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Engr Bashir Gegu assured that Ododo would be a good governor saying, “He is going to build on the legacies laid down by Governor Yahaya Bello.”
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Deedat said APC stakeholders and entire members had endorsed Ododo adding, “But those against are in the minority and I believe they will queue up later”, he said.
The Nigerian Pilot reports that aside Gegu and Deedat, the state Auditor-General, Yakubu Okala, and Accountant General of the state, Jibrin Momoh were among the former governorship aspirants that graced the occasion. (Ends).