By: Hon. Engr. Amodu Khalid Abdulrahaman (FHIM, CIS)
Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Grassroot Mobilization
As the political landscape moves closer to the 2027 general elections, governance has become the ultimate metric for political viability. In Kogi State, the narrative is clear: good governance is not just a campaign promise. It is an active, daily reality.
Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, Kogi State has transformed into a shining model of administrative excellence, infrastructural revolution, and security resilience. As the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroot Mobilization, I interact daily with the heart of our population. I can boldly state that Governor Ododo's localized, result-driven governance is effectively anchoring the North Central zone, building an unshakeable grassroots foundation that guarantees a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reelection in 2027.
THE UNDENIABLE FOOTPRINTS OF THE ODODO ADMINISTRATION SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ACROSS THREE CRITICAL PILLARS
SECURITY: Defending the Confluence and Crushing Terrorism
Without safety, there can be no sustainable grassroots development. Governor Ododo has approached security with unmatched tactical precision, shifting from defensive policing to aggressive, frontline neutralization of threats.
DISMANTLING TERROR NETWORKS: The zero-tolerance policy of this administration was forcefully demonstrated by the historic elimination of the state's most wanted, deadly bandit kingpin, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo. By taking out this notorious commander and dismantling his violent cell, Governor Ododo has restored absolute peace and sanity to rural communities that were previously vulnerable.
THE 50 TACTICAL ARMOURED FLEET: To maximize field operations, the administration procured and deployed 50 heavy-duty armoured protective patrol vehicles. These high-tech combat assets have been strategically stationed across flashpoints, including Iluke and surrounding border communities, ensuring rapid response capabilities.
GRASSROOT COMMUNITY POLICING: Recognizing that local intelligence is vital, the Governor approved and funded the recruitment of 50 local hunters per Local Government Area across all 21 LGAs. Operating alongside conventional forces, this grassroots security network has effectively flushed out criminal elements.
RESTORING BROKEN BORDERS: The establishment of a fully functional Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Bagana, Omala LGA, has restored peace, commerce, and displaced citizens to an agrarian hub that was previously plagued by interstate border clashes.
CIVIL SERVANT WELFARE: Setting the National Standard for Workers' Dignity
A motivated civil service is the engine room of effective public service delivery. Governor Ododo, with his deep background in public accounting and audit discipline, understands that treating workers with dignity is non-negotiable.
THE LANDMARK MINIMUM WAGE: Defying conventional fiscal anxieties, Governor Ododo became the first governor in Northern Nigeria to approve and implement a ₦72,500 minimum wage for all categories of state workers, intentionally surpassing the Federal Government's ₦70,000 benchmark to help shield workers from inflationary pressures.
TWO DECADES OF PENSION STAGNATION BROKEN: In a historic gesture of empathy, the Governor approved a ₦10,000 harmonization allowance for state pensioners, breaking a 20-year cycle of stagnant retirement benefits.
THE ACCESS TO CARE INITIATIVE: Beyond direct salaries, the administration launched free health insurance programs under the Access to Care Initiative, providing comprehensive medical coverage for more than 76,000 vulnerable individuals, local government workers, and pensioners.
INFRASTRUCTURE & SOCIAL INVESTMENT: Empowering the Grassroots
True grassroots mobilization relies on physical infrastructure that creates wealth, improves livelihoods, and links local economies to urban centers.
THE URBAN-RURAL ROAD NETWORK: The administration has turned Kogi into a massive construction site, completing inherited road projects while constructing new ones. Key milestones include the rapid execution of the 9-kilometer Zone 8-Barrack-Zango Road and the 5.5-kilometer Zone 8-Crusher Road, both fitted with modern streetlighting systems to enhance security and support night-time commerce.
THE MULTI-BILLION NAIRA INTERNATIONAL MARKET: Construction is progressing on a modern international market along the Zone 8-Crusher axis, designed to strengthen regional trade across North Central Nigeria.
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION: More than 100 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 21 LGAs have been remodeled and equipped with solar power systems, oxygen concentrators, and mobile X-ray facilities. To encourage healthcare delivery in rural communities, the Governor also approved a ₦300,000 monthly incentive for rural medical doctors.
EDUCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES: The administration allocated ₦600 million to cover WAEC examination fees for over 18,000 senior secondary school students in public schools, while also supporting NECO, JAMB, and First School Leaving Certificate examinations. In agriculture, over ₦7 billion was invested in farm inputs and 100 tractors across 7,000 hectares of farmland to strengthen food security.
THE STRATEGIC LINK TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU'S 2027 REELECTION
Politics is local. The strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level is directly connected to the performance of its governors. Supporters of the administration argue that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo's performance in Kogi State provides a strong foundation for the Renewed Hope Agenda in the North Central zone ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Ododo's State Achievements → Secured Borders & Satisfied Grassroots → Solidified North-Central APC Vote Bank → President Tinubu's 2027 Reelection.
Supporters argue that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeks reelection in 2027, governance outcomes in APC-led states will form part of the public assessment. They contend that improvements in security, worker welfare, and rural infrastructure strengthen the party's political position in Kogi State.
As the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroot Mobilization, I witness firsthand the changing sentiments among communities. Farmers returning safely to their fields, civil servants receiving improved wages on schedule, and families benefiting from educational support are frequently cited as indicators of confidence in the administration.
Supporters conclude that Kogi State has become politically consolidated under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo's leadership, positioning the state to deliver strong electoral support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2027 reelection bid, Insha Allah.
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