Stakeholders from Kogi Local Government Area (Koton-Karfe) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a second term in office, insisting that the Kogi West governorship agenda should be pursued in 2031, rather than 2027.
The stakeholders, comprising elders, political leaders, youths and women from the 11 wards of the local government, made their position known at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Lokoja, on Sunday.
They argued that allowing Ododo to complete his second term would promote political stability, consolidate ongoing development projects and strengthen the chances of Kogi West producing the next governor of the state in 2031.
Addressing the debate over power rotation among the three senatorial districts, on behalf of the stakeholders, Senator Ado Shaibu, said they believed in equity, fairness and rotational leadership but maintained that the principle should not be applied in a manner that would disrupt an incumbent administration before the completion of its constitutionally permitted tenure.
They noted that Kogi East had governed the state for more than 18 years, while Kogi Central had held power for eight years between 2016 and 2023 and was now in its second phase.
According to them, the principle of fairness demands that Ododo be allowed to complete his second four-year tenure from 2027 to 2031 before power shifts to Kogi West.
The stakeholders maintained that any attempt to truncate Ododo’s administration in the name of power rotation could undermine the political prospects of Kogi West in 2031.
They urged political leaders and stakeholders across Kogi Central and Kogi East to support their position, describing it as a pathway towards an orderly and peaceful transition of power to Kogi West at the end of Ododo’s tenure.
On the performance of the Federal Government, the group expressed support for President Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange windows.
They said the reforms were intended to improve government revenue, unify the foreign exchange market and lay the foundation for long-term economic recovery.
The stakeholders also cited ongoing federal infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, as well as efforts to improve electricity generation, expand student financing through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), promote skills acquisition and revitalise primary healthcare centres across the country.
The group also passed a vote of confidence in Governor Ododo, describing him as a leader committed to the development of all parts of the state.
They commended his administration for prioritising security, maintaining the payment of workers’ salaries, continuing infrastructure projects across the three senatorial districts and pursuing initiatives aimed at expanding the state’s economic base.
The stakeholders further highlighted the proposed cargo international airport, industrial park, export-free zone initiative and construction of a modern market as projects they believed would contribute to the state’s economic growth.
They also praised the governor for sustaining religious tolerance and ethnic harmony, saying these were essential to peace and development in the state.
The group said Ododo deserved another four years to consolidate on the foundation laid by his predecessor, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and sustain ongoing people-oriented projects.
Reaffirming their position, the stakeholders declared their support for Tinubu and Ododo ahead of the 2027 general elections and called on political structures across the 11 wards of Kogi Local Government Area to commence mobilisation in support of both leaders.