*Says incoming governor should include UPPP in governance
By MIKE ODEH JAMES, Kaduna
Mallam Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu, the Chairman of United Peoples Progressive Parties (UPPP), a grand coalition of parties that supported Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Kogi State Governor-Elect in the November 2023 Election, has assured the people of the state, that the incoming governor’s performances would bring economic development, generate employment opportunities, rural development and foster unity among the people of the state.
Mallam Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu disclosed this in an interactive chat with the media at his country home in Lokoja on Monday January 15, 2024.
Mallam Bala Dirisu explained that based on his track records as the Auditor General for Local Government and his manifesto, it is certain that Kogites have got who they have been praying to Almighty God for.
“I can assure you that Kogi people have gotten the man they prayed to Almighty Allah for.
“Going by his blueprint and manifesto, the Governor-Elect will turn the state into a massive development site, where rural communities would be transformed, urban centres would get more development, women and youth would be incorporated into the mainstream and massive employment opportunities would abound,” he said.
The chairman of the UPPP, who said he wanted to be the first among the rest to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who would be sworn in as governor on January 27, 2024, reminded the governor of the need to carry all Kogites along, irrespective of their political, tribal and religious inclinations.
“Like I said, it is all about the Kogi agenda and not an individual or sectional agenda.
“Our appeal to the Governor-Elect, His excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is that he should reach out to all people in the state and make sure everyone is carried along in line with his promise to run an all inclusive government.
“Development must reach Kogi East, Kogi West and Kogi Central and he should run an all inclusive government,” he advised.
Mallam Dirisu also assured the incoming governor of the unalloyed support of the grand coalition that worked tirelessly for the victory of his party at the polls.
He urged the governor to include members of the UPPP in the running of the affairs of the state.
“While congratulating our incoming Governor, I wish to assure him that the UPPP stands ready to make sure that the Governor Elect succeeds in moving the state forward.
“To this end, I urge the incoming governor to ensure that members of the UPPP who stood by him, worked for him and supported him be drafted into the government of the incoming administration, so that the good people of the state would benefit from their wealth of experience,” he added.
He also commended His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello for doing a good job in his eight years.
“UPPP wishes to thank His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello for providing the leadership for Kogi when it was needed the most.
“History and Kogites would remember Governor Yahaya Bello with fondness,” he declared.
