It’s Time For Kogi West To Produce Governor – Tom Ohikere

Dr. Tom Ohikere, two-time former Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, in an interview with ADEMU IDAKWO, assesses Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s performance, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Kogi’s challenges, and the prospects of the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

How would you assess the performance of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo since he assumed office, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security, healthcare, education and the economy of Kogi State?

The Ododo administration has prioritised continuity and stability. In that regard, there has been relative peace in Kogi State compared to our neighbouring states, and the regularity of salary payments has improved. These are commendable achievements and should be recognised. However, when you assess the administration against the State’s broader development needs, there are significant gaps.

The government has not demonstrated the level of urgency, innovation, and delivery required to transform people’s lives. Like in the infrastructure, road projects are ongoing, but the pace of execution remains slow.

There is a need for the government to be more aggressive in completing critical infrastructure that directly affects the movement of people, goods and services across the state.

Our Primary Health Centres still lack essential drugs, adequate personnel and the facilities required to provide quality healthcare, particularly to people in rural communities. A government cannot claim meaningful development when citizens still struggle to access basic healthcare close to their homes. Education: Investment in teacher training and school infrastructure remains insufficient, especially in rural areas. We need properly equipped schools, motivated teachers and an education system capable of preparing our young people for the future.

The rising cost of food and transportation is severely affecting households, and the state’s response has largely been limited to palliatives. Palliatives may provide temporary relief, but they cannot replace a sustainable economic policy. Most critically, the water supply has collapsed.

The Greater Lokoja Water Works, located in Lokoja, the state capital in Kogi West, was built by the Ibrahim Idris administration and was functional until this government came on board. It has now been abandoned.

In Kogi Central, despite the presence of Ekuku Dam, Okene Water Works, and Osara Dam, the people still lack access to potable water.

This is not a minor issue. Water is one of the most basic responsibilities of government. If people living in a state with dams and waterworks cannot access clean, potable water, then something is fundamentally wrong with the administration’s priorities.

So, while I acknowledge the improvement in salary payments and the relative peace in the state, the Ododo administration has failed Kogi in critical areas such as water, healthcare, jobs, education, and economic development.

The Ododo administration has presented itself as continuing and consolidating the previous administration’s achievements. From your assessment, what has the government done well, and where has it fallen short?

Continuity is valuable when it leads to improvement. The government has done well to maintain peace and ensure more consistent salary payments. These are important because workers need the assurance that they will receive their wages regularly, while investors and citizens also need a stable environment.

However, where the administration has fallen short is in delivery and innovation. Consolidation should not mean repetition of mistakes or simply maintaining the status quo.

The abandonment of key projects, such as the Greater Lokoja Water Works, and the failure to provide water in Kogi Central show a lack of commitment to completing what was started.

The government should not merely inherit projects; it should identify what is working, fix what is not, complete abandoned projects, and initiate new programmes where necessary.

What is your assessment of the state government’s handling of workers’ welfare, salaries, pensions and other issues affecting civil servants and pensioners in Kogi State?

There has been an improvement in salary payments, and it deserves recognition. It has brought some relief to civil servants and has restored a measure of confidence among workers who depend on their monthly income to meet their obligations.

What do you think your party, ADC, can do differently in Kogi, if given the mandate by the 2027 governorship election?

We will implement a “Workers First Policy.” This includes clearing pension backlogs in phases, introducing health insurance for workers and pensioners, and improving workplace conditions. Workers deserve dignity beyond just a salary.

There have been concerns about the rising cost of living and economic hardship in every state in the country. How well do you think the Ododo administration has responded to the economic difficulties facing ordinary people in Kogi State?

The response so far has been inadequate. Palliatives are not a sustainable policy. With national fuel prices at ₦1,000 and food inflation at over 40 per cent, Kogi families are under immense pressure. The ordinary worker, trader, farmer, student, and small business owner is struggling with the rising costs of transportation, food, accommodation, and other basic necessities. The state needs to do more in three critical areas.

As an opposition figure, what specific policies or decisions of the Ododo administration do you disagree with, and what alternatives would your party, the ADC, propose?

We have three major areas of disagreement. The abandonment of the Greater Lokoja Water Works and the neglect of water infrastructure in Kogi Central. The Burden of Completion Principle. We will audit all abandoned projects and set a two-year timeline to complete them. Water is a right, not a privilege.

The government must stop the culture of starting projects without completing them. The people deserve to know what has been spent, what remains to be done and when each project will be completed. Kogi East has produced governors for 17 years. Kogi Central for 12 years. Kogi West has had 0 years. For fairness, unity and justice, the governorship in 2027 must go to Kogi West. This is not about denying any other part of the state its rights. It is about fairness, inclusion and building confidence among the people. Every senatorial district should have a sense of belonging. This is how we build trust and a sense of belonging in our state.

President Tinubu’s government says its reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and changes in the foreign exchange system, are necessary to rebuild the economy. Do you believe Nigerians are beginning to see the benefits of these reforms?

No, Nigerians are not seeing benefits. They are experiencing pain. A reform that increases poverty, closes businesses and makes food unaffordable is not a reform. It is a policy failure.

You do not remove subsidies before fixing refineries. You do not float the naira before boosting local production. The administration put the pain first and promised gains later. That is not compassionate governance, and it is not working.