By Otori Ozigi
It goes without saying that the administration of Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman is firmly premised on consolidation and continuity of the landmark legacies of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.
These legacies are in the thematic areas of the new direction vision mantra, namely infrastructure development, security, economy, health, education, agriculture, tourism potentials, and the welfare of the good people of Kogi State.
In keeping with the realization of the above lofty goals and objectives, the administration of Alhaji Ododo had hit the ground running in the last couple of weeks, with a firm commitment and tenacity of purpose to put the wheel of governance trajectory in sharp focus,.and In the right direction.
On infrastructural development, Alhaji Ododo has been crisscrossing the length and breath of the state, on the spot assessment and inspection of ongoing capital projects in the three.senatorial districts of the state.
One of such projects that got the attention of the workaholic governor is the ongoing construction of Obangede -Okaito-Ihima roads in Okehi LGA, that have been left in a deplorable state for years.
The inspection train of the governor also stopped over at the Kogi State University, Kabba, the headquarters of Kogi West.
One other area that has received the attention of the governor is the security architecture in the state, that has become the concern of every right thinking members of the society in recent time, as criminal elements are making a return to the state in full force.
There is no gainsaying that, the insecurity in the state is gradually becoming a recurring decimal with the full potentials to pose a major concern and anxiety for the public.
But, the governor has risen to the challenge and his efforts have started yielding the desired results.
Recall that in the last couple of days the security agents have made a harvest of criminal elements like kidnappers and vandals who were operating in various locations in the state.
For example, no fewer than 8 members of a religious group, who were reportedly kidnapped on their way to Lokoja from Kabba town, have been rescued from the den of kidnappers operating in the state.
Another set of criminal elements that specialize in the vandalisation of electricity cables were reportedly arrested on their way to Lagos state recently.
The governor had since given the marching order to security agents to rise up to the occasion and make the state uncomfortable for criminal elements, in the years ahead.
And true, the security agents are presently on top of the insecurity challenges in the state in recent time.
Another area that had received the attention of the governor is the tourism sector, in a bid to harness the full benefits and potentials of that very important sector of the economy of the state.
Little wonder therefore that, the governor had commissioned a team of tourism experts to commence on the spot inspection of tourism sites in Kogi State.
The team led by Hajia Bilqis Abdul the Chief Executive Officer of Bboog Travels and Tours Ltd Abuja,would round up their tour before the end of this week,with a planned visit to some tourism sites in Kogi East.
They had earlier visited some tourism sites in Kogi central and Kogi west where they chronicled and documented all the tourism sites in the areas visited..
In another development, the government had completed concerted efforts to provide clean and portable water to residents in Lokoja and Okene communities in the state.
As at today, work is ongoing to ensure the water treatment of both Okene water works and old Lokoja water works, as water treatment chemicals have been delivered to both water works since two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, information at my disposal is that work has been concluded at the old Lokoja water works, as portable water is reportedly being supplied to some traditional areas of Lokoja metropolis.
On the welfare of the people of Kogi State, Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman had since completed the first phase of the quarterly distribution of palliatives targeted for the less privileged ones and the poorest of the poor in the state.
Recall too, that the state governor also implemented the payment of 80 percent payment of salaries for local government workers, teachers and Pensioners in the month of February, in a bid to cushion the excruciating effect of the present hardship in the country today.
On the area of Environment and Waste management, the Ministry of Environment had since commenced the total clean up exercise of the Lokoja, the state capital, following the directive of the governor.
The ultimate goal is to make the state capital one of the cleanest state capitals in the country, within the shortest possible time.
Meanwhile, the governor showed recently that he would be doing things differently, as he made full disclosure of allocation accrued to the state from the federation account for the month of February,2024.
This move is seen generally as a testament of his avowed commitment to the ideals of fiscal accountability and transparency in governance in Kogi State.
Viewed against this background therefore, It.is evidently clear that the governor is on course as he walks the talk on consolidation and continuity of the legacies of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, who is auguably, the father of modern Kogi state.
Indeed, governor Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman is a model in good governance, all variables considered.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran journalist and PR Consultant , writes from Okene, Kogi State.
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