Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has declared that there is no political ambition that is worth destroying the peace of the state, urging stakeholders to pursue their interests without turning people and communities against one another.
Governor Ododo said this while addressing participants at the Kogi Power Rotation Summit 2026 held in Lokoja, with the theme, “Retooling Kogi for Unity and Shared Prosperity.”
Represented by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omdara, the governor said the conversation on the political future of Kogi requires courage, honesty, wisdom and a sense of responsibility to generations yet unborn.
He said the state’s diversity should be a source of strength rather than division, stressing that every part of Kogi deserves to feel a sense of belonging.
“No political position is worth the blood of a Kogite. No ambition is worth destroying a community. No election is worth turning neighbours into enemies,” he said.
Governor Ododo urged stakeholders to reject thuggery, intimidation, political violence and other acts capable of setting communities against one another, stressing that young people should not be used as instruments of destruction.
Chairman of the summit and former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Vice Admiral Joseph Ajayi (Rtd.), represented by his Son, Jagun Olakunle called for a four-year timeline beginning from October 2026 to work towards achieving the objective of power rotation in Kogi State.
He urged the state government and other stakeholders to identify and engage relevant individuals and groups that could contribute to the process, stressing that the initiative should be broad-based and inclusive.
The chairman said shared power would promote shared prosperity and deepen unity, progress and development in the state, adding that if other states could achieve power rotation without rancour, fighting or violence, Kogi could also achieve that.
The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, assured that the outcome of the summit would be considered in the interest of the state and that the Assembly would support any necessary legislative process that enhances peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.
Earlier, Convener of the summit, Bode Adeyemi said the organisers had, in the past five weeks, consulted royal fathers, professional bodies and other groups across the state as part of efforts to build a peaceful consensus.
Also speaking at the summit, traditional rulers expressed support for power rotation at the state, local government, including the grass root level, while stressing the need to preserve peace throughout the process.
The event was attended by Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfe, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu; Obaro of Kabba, His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi; and Attah of Igala, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa II.
The royal fathers stressed the need for consensus that is based on fairness, equity and balance, urging stakeholders to approach the discussions without emotions or partisan interests.
