By Kola Adeyemi
Voters in Kogi State have been charged to vote en masse for Ahmed Usman Ododo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election so as to sustain the trajectory of development in the state.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made the charge on Sunday in Lokoja at the formal flag off of the APC campaign for the governorship election holding in Kogi State.
He called on the people to provide the opportunity for the consolidation of the visible dividends of democracy that have been provided by the APC by voting for the candidate of the party, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The Vice President who represented President Bola Tinubu at the campaign rally warned the electorate not to vote for ” strangers whose stock-in-trade was propaganda but sustain the trajectory of development in Kogi State by voting en masse for the APC. ”
Shettima expressed optimism that the people of the state will heed his advice by voting for the APC during the governorship election.
He told the people that they were about voting a man with ” intellectual capacity to consolidate on the many achievements of his boss, Governor Yahaya Bello. ”
He disclosed that President Tinubu just approved funds for the re-construction of Ganaja Road.
According to him, the Abuja – Lokoja – Okene road and Kabba – Ilorin road will also receive the Federal Government’s attention very soon.
“For us to build on the legacy and for the purpose of continuity and consolidation, it becomes imperative for the people of Kogi State to align themselves with the power at the centre.
“President Tinubu is a man of courage and conviction, he is a man pregnant with ideas on how to reposition the nation, but Kogi, which is one of the frontiers of the North, Kogi, the Confluence State, cannot afford to have a state government that does not belong to the power at the centre.
“For the people of Kogi State to benefit immensely from the eight-point agenda of Pesident Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the people of Kogi State to benefit from the natural resources, it is absolutely essential that we should vote for a much more patriotic person who is grounded with the reality in Kogi State.
“Most important to the people of Kogi State is the Ajaokuta Steel Company that is the largest steel industry in the country.
“The President appointed a son of Kogi State from one of the prominent families in the state, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, to be the Minister of Steel Development.
“Fundamentally, he was given the appointment to promote, project and preserve the interest of the people of Kogi State to see to the realisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, which of course, is 98 per cent completed.
“The Ajaokuta steel Complex will help the Federal Government to fulfill the eight-point agenda of President Tinubu’s administration with respect to job creation, huge investment and revenue generation.
“Ajaokuta steel company has the potential to generate over 500,000 jobs once Ajaokuta is designated as an industrial zone.
“The youth want jobs, better education and good life.
“You are better off if you follow the man who knows road, therefore give your votes to APC, give your votes to Usman Ahmed Ododo.
“This is a young man who can deliver the desired dividend of democracy to you,” the Vice President said.
He then called voters to reciprocate the hood gestures from President Tinubu by voting for the APC during the coming governorship election.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council For Kogi Election, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, insisted that the APC remains the party to beat in the election
He therefore urged the people not to make the mistake of not voting for the APC during the election.
Abiodun said voting APC on November 11 will give the state the opportunity to consolidate on visible gains already on ground and ensure the continuity of good governance.
He said : “I urge you to vote for consolidation by voting for the APC Governorship Candidate to enable him build on security, infrastructure, education and several other visible achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“The APC will sustain the trajectory of development in Kogi State. Don’t vote for strangers. Get your PVC and vote for the APC. In Kogi State, we have only one party and that is the APC.”
Abiodun used the opportunity to welcome the thousands of defectors from opposition parties, who had just declared on Sunday for the APC, saying they had taken the best decision to stay with the winning team in the interest of the state’s sustained development.
The defectors were from the People’s Democratic Party, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, Accord Party and the African Democratic Congress, among others.
The Campaign Council Chairman maintained that, with the massive defection into the APC from the opposition political parties, it was clear that Ododo would emerge victorious.
The National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, while addressing the mammoth crowd called for close of ranks and unity among APC members.
Ganduje also called on the people of the state to shun ethnicity, stressing that what everyone should look forward to is the victory party for the APC.
“Without mincing words, the only party in Kogi is the APC.
“We have all it takes to mobilise massively for the APC Governorship Candidate.
“I’m looking forward to a victory party because we parade the best candidate who has uniting the people as his priority.
“Let’s shun tribalism and ethnicity,” Ganduje said.
The state governor , Alhaji Yahaya Bello in his address thanked God that he had been able to place the State on the path of sustained development.
“Within the period of service to the people of the state, I have built and improved infrastructure, security, and recently made education in the state free at all levels in public, primary and secondary schools.
“I’m proud to state that we are leaving Kogi State better than we met it for those that will govern after us.
“Without exaggeration, APC will win the November 11 Governorship election, landslide.
“This is because our work, achievements and our party will speak for us. Kogi is APC and APC is Kogi State,” he added.
While addressing the rally, the APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Usman Ododo, promised to build on the outstanding achievements of Governor Bello.
He assured the people that, if elected, their welfare would be a top priority of his administration.
“I’m promising more youth and women inclusiveness in governance. My agenda for the State is Kogi Agenda.
“I will not disappoint our leader and father, President Bola Tinubu; I will not disappoint my mentor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello; I will not disappoint our party and I will not disappoint the good people of Kogi State.
“We will consolidate on the achievements of my leader in the state and strive towards continuity and sustainability in the areas of security, education, agriculture, and improved infrastructure, amongst several areas the APC administration has made a mark,” he said.
He also promised the people of the state that his mandate would be for the overall development of the state, stressing the improvement in the achievements of Governor Bello and in the wellbeing of his people as his priority.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of the APC flag to the candidate of the party, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Prominent party chieftains including Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara State, the Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shaibu Abubakar Audu, and other top party members witnessed the campaign rally which was held at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja, one of the legacy projects of Governor Yahaya Bello.
The centre was filled to the brim by tumultuous crowd of party members and supporters and other interested groups who came from the state and beyond to witness the rally. (vitalnewsngr.com)
