Kogi State Government Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has appealed to Youths in the Country to shun the proposed protest scheduled for August 1st to 10th 2024.
Governor Ododo made the appeal on Tuesday during the empowerment of 500 Women and Youth in Poultry value-chain credit support programme held in Lokoja.
He argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration inherited the current economic hardship adding that protest will bring about distruction of the nations economy.
“As a State, we will continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu laudable initiative in making Nigeria great. To those Nigerians who are bent on violent protests, let reasoning prevail. We are making progress. We are moving forward. Our hopes are back.
” Any violent protest at a time like this will no doubt reverse our gain in the past 13 months. The intent of the promoters of protest in Nigeria are concealed in political desperation.
“I call on all the youth of our dear nation to rise behind Mr. President in his determination to fix the nation back on track. Mr. President is trying. What we are facing today is not caused by him. He inherited this economic crisis and hardship and he is trying to pull us out of it. I urge everyone of us as a state to support Mr. President’s programs and policies so that together we can jointly pull ourselves out of this economic hardship.
” Tell those that are telling you to go on the street to protest to bring their children.You cannot send your children abroad, thinking we are fools. We are not fools. Mr. President is trying. We will continue to support him so that we will be pulled out of this inherited economic crisis”he stated.
On the empowerment of 500 Women and Youth in Poultry value-chain credit support programme, the Governor explained that the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support, L-PRES, is a giant stride in Nigeria’s drive towards food security and economic prosperity.
According to him “It aligns seamlessly with our administration’s short, medium, and long term plan to make the epic center of livestock production in Nigeria. We are determined to achieve the project development objective here in Kogi state. A pottery boom in our dear state will mean serving 10 other states and the federal capital territory”.
Governor Ododo assured the World Bank that his administration will continue to inject projects with great political will and zeal to the benefit of the people.
Earlier in his address, the Kogi State project Coordinator, Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support, L-PRES Dr Olufemi Bolarin noted that the programme is aimed at improving livestock Productivity and commercialization of value chains and strengthening the country capacity to respond to any emergency.
He urged all the beneficiaries to make the best of this golden opportunity to transform the livestock industry in Kogi State.
In his speech, the Kogi State Commissioner for agriculture and food security Hon. Timothy denied the allegations in a viral videos that the State diverted palliatives meant to cushion the current economic hardship in the Country.
Ojomah explained that the viral video is the hand work of mischief makers who are determined to rubbish the good image of the present administration in Kogi State under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
According to him, the viral video emanated from Abuja and not in Kogi State.
He wants the general public to have confidence on the present administration adding that palliative sent to the state was shared transparently.
“The viral video being circulated on social media that Kogi State diverted palliatives is false. It didn’t emanate from our State. There was never a time Kogi State took delivery of beans but grains. It happened in Area 11 Abuja. This is the hand works of mischief makers and our enemies.
” They will never succeed. We appeal to the general public to disregard such mischievous, and fake news circulating on the social media space. The present has been transparent in the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of the hardship in our Country. Am urging them to have confidence in the present administration”he added.