Opposition Slams Ododo Over 2 Projects In 1 Year

Opposition in Kogi State has slammed Governor Usman Ododo for executing only two projects for commissioning in one year.

According to the opposition, it is unacceptable for the President to visit the state only to commission two projects.

Speaking on behalf of the opposition in Lokoja, yesterday, Hon. Austin Okai, a former PDP House of Representatives candidate for Dekina/ Bassa Federal Constituency, said the governor should be more transparent about governance in the state.

He said, “If the calibre of the Vice president is to commission projects in the state, they should be visible. Where are the projects in the east, west, and central? It is a shame that the Vice president only Commissions two roads in Lokoja, the state capital; that is not right.

Okai said, “Where are the projects? The only thing going for Governor Ododo is his humility. However, governance is beyond humility.

“Only last week, the governor claimed that over three billion naira had been deployed to over 80 communities. Where are the communities? He should mention at least five. The governor is not trying to be different from his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. He needs to change his style of leadership.

Okai maintained that Monday’s actions were political, saying they had just told the people and the visitors what they wanted them to hear.

“Take the issue of salary payment, for instance. How much are they paying? How many workers are there? What is the wage bill? Let him come out clean on this. Overall, the governor must be transparent. Governance is about transparency. You cannot run a Government like a secret cult.

“We all know the last administration sacked over 70% of the workforce. Therefore, what is the total strength of the workforce now, and how much are they paying as salaries? These are questions begging for answers. I know that the workers have yet to earn the minimum wage. Austin Okai emphasised.

“My advice to the governor is to wake up and do the right thing. As I said, governance is beyond humility,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu commissioned two projects executed by the Ahmed Usman Ododo-led government to mark the Governor’s one year in office.

The president, who the Vice president represented, was accompanied on the visit by the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebolo, the National Chairman of the APC, Umar Ganduje, former and serving national Assembly members from the state, the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and former Governor Idris Wada, among other dignitaries.

The president commissioned projects in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, before moving to Muhamodu Buhari Square, where he met some stakeholders.

The projects commissioned by the Vice president are the 5.5-kilometer Zone 8—Crusher road, which hosts most federal establishments in the state. These include the AIG Zone 8 office, the State security service, the CBN, Immigration, and the correctional service, among others.

The other project is the 9-kilometer Zone 8 roundabout -Zango Daji -Barrack—Kaduna Junction road, which was started by the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and completed by the incumbent governor.

The president also symbolically commissioned all other projects executed by Governor Ododo across the state’s three Senatorial districts.