Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has charged youths in Okun land to embrace unity, economic self-determination and peaceful political participation as pathways to sustainable development and prosperity in the state.
Governor Ododo gave the charge on Tuesday at the Government House in Lokoja during a meeting with a political group known as Okun Youths for Tinubu and Ododo.
He commended the youths of the Okun land for their steadfast support and commitment to the progress of Kogi State.
The Governor applauded leaders of Okun land for what he described as sincere and purposeful leadership that continues to inspire younger generations towards responsible engagement in governance and community development.
Speaking on the future of Okun land, Governor Ododo said Okun land possesses enormous economic potential, especially with the discovery of large deposits of lithium and other solid mineral deposits in the area.
According to him, the proper harnessing and local refining of solid materials in the area could significantly reduce unemployment, insecurity and medical tourism while creating fresh opportunities for economic prosperity.
“We are blessed, especially the Okun land . Okun land has been confirmed to have the largest volume of lithium. With unity, we can refine our own lithium and we would have ended unemployment, insecurity and medical tourism,” the Governor stated.
Governor Ododo stressed the need for the people of Kogi State to rise above division and embrace collective responsibility for development, insisting that the state is richly endowed with both human and natural resources.
“We were not born hooligans, we were not born with thuggery. Let us work together to build a future that will help us forever,” he added.
The Governor further assured that his administration would not impose candidates on communities ahead of future elections, noting that stakeholders would be allowed to determine their preferred aspirants through consensus and consultation.
Reaffirming his administration’s support for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Ododo declared that Kogi State would work collectively to ensure massive votes for the President in the next general election.
He warned that actions capable of undermining the political success of President Tinubu in the state would not be tolerated.
Earlier, the spokesperson of the group, Comrade Seun Adebayo, praised President Tinubu for providing what he described as a level playing field for democratic participation across the country.
The group also declared support for Governor Ododo’s administration, insisting that his re-election remained “non-negotiable” in view of what they described as his developmental strides across communities in Okun land.
They commended the Governor for sustained investments in infrastructure, education and healthcare, while reaffirming their commitment to partnering with his administration in building a greater Kogi State.
