A former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly and one-time acting governor of the state, Oba Clarence Olafemi, has commended Governor Usman Ododo’s performance in office, saying his administration has made significant strides within one year.
Speaking with journalists in Mopa, Mopamuro local government area, Oba Olafemi, now a traditional ruler, said that Governor Ododo’s achievements were verifiable and worthy of support.
Olafemi said that it became necessary to provide moral support given the progress recorded by the governor across various sectors.
“The governor documented his achievements in a booklet, and everything he claims to have done is verifiable. It is commendable when a student surpasses the achievements of his/her teacher. If you mentor someone and they excel beyond your expectations, you should take pride in their success”, he said.
He also said that the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who spoke on behalf of past governors, acknowledged Governor Ododo’s efforts, during presentation of his scorecard.
Olafemi, however, advised the governor to prioritize completion of ongoing projects before embarking on new ones.
“The governor is making efforts across multiple sectors, possibly in a bid to showcase his performance quickly. He has made notable impacts in education and infrastructure, particularly in road construction”, he said.
Citing an example, he highlighted the ongoing construction of the township road in Mopa, his hometown, which includes a well-structured drainage system. However, he expressed concerns over the delay in tarring the road.
“We are in the dry season, and the roads are still dusty. If they are not completed before April or May, erosion may wash away the progress made. It is crucial for the governor to complete existing projects before embarking on new ones”, he advised.
He suggested that while it may not be feasible to finalize all projects at once, the government should ensure a significant percentage of completion before initiating new projects.
On the political developments in Yagba Federal Constituency, particularly, regarding the House of Representatives seat, Olafemi emphasized the need for fairness and equity in political representation.
He explained that Yagba Federal Constituency, which comprises Mopamuro, Yagba East, and Yagba West Local Government Areas, has experienced an imbalance in political representation over the years.
“Historically, Mopamuro produced the first representatives with Chief Daniyan, Chief Awoniyi, and myself as key stakeholders. At that time, we had the capacity to retain the seat. However, after Hon Sola Ojo served one term, we ensured the seat rotated to Yagba East, where T.J. Faniyi held it. Subsequently, it moved to Yagba West, where Sam Aro assumed office”, he explained.
He noted that after Aro’s tenure, Karimi from Yagba West served two terms (eight years), followed by Hon Leke Abejide from Yagba East, who is now completing his second term, making it 12 years for both Yagba East and Yagba West. Meanwhile, Mopamuro has only held the position for a single term.
“We are now advocating for fairness, equity, and justice by ensuring the seat returns to Mopamuro. This is not about micro-zoning but about balancing representation. If an individual has occupied the seat for multiple terms, it would be unfair to deny another area its rightful turn”, Olafemi said.
He also said that political stakeholders from Yagba East, where the current representative hails from, are supporting the call for fairness.
“This is not about the size of a local government but about ensuring that every part of the constituency is fairly represented. Our voices are becoming unified, and we are determined to resolve this issue as we did in the past”, he added.
He praised Governor Ododo’s stance on not imposing candidates on constituencies and urged him to support the agitation for rotational representation.
“If our region hopes to produce a governor in the future, we must first demonstrate internal fairness and organization. The trend of one individual monopolizing a political position is unhealthy for the future of our people,” he said.
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