By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo joined millions of Nigerians at home and abroad on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary in Lokoja.
“I felicitate with the good people of Kogi State and all Nigerians as we mark 64 years of our nation’s emancipation from British colonial rule,” he said.
“Today, we honor the national heroes from every corner of this great country who fought courageously for our freedom. Their sacrifices remind us that our liberty was hard-earned, and we must cherish and safeguard it. We also commend all leaders—both civilian and military—who have governed Nigeria, as well as those who have led us in our dear state since independence.”
In his broadcast to the people of the state marking this year’s independence anniversary, Governor Ododo stated, “Our journey as a nation has not been without challenges. We are a country of great diversity—territories, tribes, and religions. Yet, despite this complex mosaic, we have maintained steady progress toward greatness.”
He pointed out that in the last 64 years, Nigeria has made significant strides both domestically and within the global community, emerging as a nation destined for greatness.
“At this critical juncture in our history, we are fortunate to have the leadership of our current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has shown unprecedented courage in addressing long-standing structural anomalies that previous governments, fearful of the inevitable fallout, carefully avoided.”
“The Federal Government of Nigeria under his leadership has significantly increased monetary allocations to states like ours, enabling us to do more for our people. He has introduced a suite of palliatives that is arguably the largest our nation has ever mobilized to ease the burden on citizens.”
Governor Ododo emphasized that guiding the people safely through the ongoing 2024 flood season in the state is his priority, and he has taken proactive steps to ensure no one is caught unprepared.
He urged residents living below the floodplains of the Rivers Niger and Benue to evacuate immediately and warned against relying solely on observable rainfall patterns to predict water levels, as upstream dams are releasing water that could cause levels to rise catastrophically without warning.
“Just last weekend, we received four motorized fiberglass boats donated by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC),” he noted.
Ododo assured the people of the state that the upcoming elections would be free and fair, urging them to come out in full force on October 19 to cast their votes for the chairmen and councilors of their choice.
“I cannot stress enough that this election is crucial for the continued progress of our state, especially at the grassroots level, where the majority of us live and conduct business.”
