TEXT OF THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, AHMED USMAN ODODO, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE ON SATURDAY THE 27TH OF JANUARY, 2024
PROTOCOL:
1. Fellow Kogites, on this auspicious day, I stand before you on the solid foundation of unity which paved the way for the collective trust bestowed on me to lead our dear state at this time in our history.
2. I am humbled by the weight of expectation as I accept your mandate to build on the enviable achievements of my predecessors who have travelled this road before now.
3. I thank His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, the father of modern Kogi State, for his unprecedented life-changing achievements in virtually all sectors of the economy, which have now formed the solid base for us to build on.
4. Your Excellency Sir, words alone are not sufficient to appreciate the pivotal role you played in the course of the transition that has today formally taken off.
5. As your Governor, I do not take for granted the euphoria that greeted our victory in the last governorship election.
6. I pray for God’s guidance in delivering enviable performance that matches the huge expectation of the people of Kogi State who voted overwhelmingly for us and our great party, the All Progressives Congress.
7. This, for me, would be a fitting appreciation to the good people of our state and to His Excellency, my mentor and leader who, along with his team, worked so hard to make today a reality.
8. I won’t forget to specifically acknowledge His Excellencies, Captain Idris Wada and Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who have made invaluable contributions to the efforts leading to this significant event.
9. History will remain kind to the two respected former Governors for their respective roles in shaping the affairs of our state.
10. Today, we remember, most profoundly, our great leader and father, His Excellency, Late Prince Abubakar Audu, who left indelible marks all over the nooks and crannies of our state in terms of infrastructure and human capital development.
11. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, May I request that we observe a moment of silence in honour of late Prince Abubakar Audu.
12. May his soul continue to rest in peace. (Ameen).
13. In my life, four women stood out for their contributions and prayers towards the realization of today’s epochal event. My wife, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ohunene has been the Chief Organizer of the home front who has given me so much peace and support. I thank you my dear wife. Let me also acknowledge my mother, Hajia Habibat Sanni Ahmed for her role in shaping my character. Special recognition to my grandmother, late Hajia Salamat Audu, who principally raised me and taught me the virtues of hardwork, honesty, humility and respect for the young and old. Mama, you are remembered for moulding me into the character I am today.
14. One of the greatest blessings of my life was to be blessed with another mother, late Hajia Hauwau Bello, the late mother of my mentor and leader, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello. Mama was highly supportive and she took me as a son. She prayed for me and it would have been a thing of joy if she is here today to witness the manifestation of her prayers. Mama, I will not disappoint you.
15. Your Excellencies, when the race for the Governorship election in Kogi State was looking like rising tides in turbulent waters, there was only one man to look up to in the country: His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
16. Mr. President Sir, we all witnessed, firsthand, your unflinching commitment to a peaceful, free, fair and credible election in Nigeria despite your loyalty to our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
17. We are grateful for your intervention in ensuring that the Governorship election in Kogi State did not descend into a war of attrition by promoters of various political interests in the state.
18. Let me assure you, Your E