The people of Kogi Central were promised better living conditions by the Accord Party candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Kogi State on November 11, Admiral Jibrin Usman (retd).
He spoke to a huge crowd of supporters in Okene during his campaign tour last weekend, according to The PUNCH.
He said he had witnessed the hardship of Kogites in all three Senatorial Districts and vowed to end it by improving infrastructure and governance in the state. He also assured the primary school teachers and local government staff that they would receive their full salaries under his administration.
He said, “I have gone round the nooks and crannies of Kogi State and I have seen the hardship of Kogites. Hunger, poverty, thuggery and high level of infrastructural decay are the order of the day.
“Let me assure all of you that immediately you elect me as your Governor, I will quickly put measures in place that would address your sufferings and restore sanity and good governance in our state.
“Let me also assure our primary school teachers and Local Government staff across the state that when elected governor, your percentage salary and neglect from the ruling APC would become history. You will enjoy your full salary just like it is done in other sectors. We must come together as one people and fight our common enemy.
“We need to pay attention to our women. We must empower them. Women are the bedrock of every society. I will empower our mothers so that all of us can have enough to eat when you elect me your governor.
“When elected governor of Kogi, I will roll out a massive empowerment programme for our youths to reduce vices and increase responsibility among the people. We will create gainful employment for our teeming unemployed youths across the nooks and crannies of Kogi State,” he said
The people welcomed his message and pledged their support for him. A community leader, Usman Ozino, described him as a good news for Kogi State and praised his “Experience, capacity and wisdom to lead for a prosperous Kogi State.”
However, there are fears of violence ahead of the election, as a group called the Coalition for Credible Elections raised alarm over the activities of Muritala Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party.
The group said he had been ignoring police invitations over allegations of violence and undermining security efforts in the state.
The group quoted the Kogi Police Command as saying, “While chairmen and candidates of the other political parties have continued to honour police invitations to discuss petitions and or allegations with the police, and other salient issues germane to peaceful campaigns.
