In certain quarters, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo was characterized as “stingy” when he took office.
That term was created by individuals who anticipated that government funds would keep pouring into the coffers of godfathers and political influencers.
Months into his term, however, that very “stinginess” is becoming a golden attribute, driving a revolution in public utility, healthcare, education, and rural connectivity.
If being frugal with political rent-seekers means being generous with the populace, Kogi might be entering a new phase of significant growth.
To improve the state’s electrical supply, particularly in rural areas, the Kogi State Government recently accepted the delivery of many transformers. Large swaths of our rural communities lived in economic and literal darkness for decades. Now, that tide is shifting.
Not only does electricity provide light, but it also stimulates rural development. Now that the power supply has improved, small-scale food processors can enhance the value of agricultural products including rice, groundnuts, yams, and cassava. In addition to increasing household income, this will lower post-harvest losses. For craftspeople who rely on electricity to operate their enterprises, like mechanics, welders, hairdressers, and tailors, this is a liberating experience.
They can work from their local communities, which deters the rural-urban movement that has long deprived our villages of their young people and productive potential.
Access to clean water will also be improved because a lot of water pumping systems and boreholes rely on electricity. Women and children who must walk great distances to gather water are thus less burdened, and more significantly, this aids in the prevention of waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid.
We term surgical prudence what some refer to as stinginess. The government is diverting money away from unnecessary spending and toward areas that actually need it.
The healthcare industry is experiencing the same revolutionary story. Currently under renovation are more than 200 Primary Health Centers spread across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas. But it’s more than a patch job or a coat of paint. By bringing life-saving treatments closer to rural populations, these health centers are being outfitted to manage secondary healthcare tasks. In Kogi State’s history, this is without a doubt the most bold investment made in the rural healthcare system.
In villages like Otafun, Ayede, and several others that had never experienced governmental investment, shining new health centers are now emerging.
Residents may now receive basic medical care without having to travel for hours. These days, people may access prenatal care, vaccinations, minor procedures, and chronic disease therapy.
Across her most rural areas, Kogi is discreetly creating a healthcare safety net at a time when many governments are fighting to maintain urban facilities.
This “stinginess” on the part of the governor is also helping education. For example, Government Day Secondary School in Takete-Ide. It was established in 1980, and for many years, its community-built classrooms served as a symbol of grassroots sacrifice.
However, two months ago, a shift occurred. The school received brand-new classrooms with electric fixtures, secure doors and windows, tiled floors, strong roofs, and attractive walls.
For the first time in more than 40 years, the government was actually felt by the teachers and students. Furthermore, this is not a unique instance. Schools throughout the state are undergoing similar changes, transforming them from temporary sheds into actual educational hubs.
It’s not only about buildings, though. In support of its assertion that education is a public right, the State Government, led by Governor Ododo, has taken action. The state has eliminated tuition for primary and secondary school. Additionally, internal and external exams like WAEC, NECO, and others are funded by the government. In order to help tertiary students keep focused on their studies rather than their tuition costs, bursaries are now being awarded.
From the first day of elementary school to the last day of a university lecture hall, the impoverished children see the support of the government. The goal of government should be to alleviate burdens rather than add to them. Only because the governor is unwilling to play the game of “settling” the politically entitled at the expense of the voiceless masses is it conceivable.
The changes extend beyond healthcare, education, and electricity. Additionally, the state is paying extraordinary attention to its urban and rural infrastructure. From road projects that connect farming areas to markets to the ongoing erosion control efforts in portions of Kogi East, Kogi West, and Kogi Central, the governor’s approach is sustainable and smart.
To serve the greatest number of people, every kobo is being stretched. Instead of connections, contractors are chosen based on their competence. Projects are not made for publicity, but for practical use.
Under Governor Ododo, there has also been a notable improvement in security, another essential element of growth.
His administration has supported the training and deployment of community-based security personnel and made significant investments in the acquisition of supplies for security organizations. These local officers have played a crucial role in stopping criminal activities before they get out of hand since they are the first line of defense in their communities. Previously violent and bandit locations are now seeing a relative peace. This better security environment is the consequence of intentional, targeted investment in preserving lives and livelihoods.
Additionally, the Governor has supported the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) as a means of generating income. By providing sufficient funds to the agency, the government is empowering small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those led by young people and women. Throughout the state, prospective business owners are receiving soft loans, training, and technical assistance. This “stinginess” is what gives the people access to finance and boosts trust in the core of the economy. Governor Ododo has made the generation of wealth at the grassroots level a movement rather than merely a policy.
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Additionally, his administration has implemented measures to modernize land administration using the Kogi Geographic Information System (KOGIS), which would increase the transparency, accessibility, and investor-friendliness of land documents. Another outcome of wise leadership is that this will release real estate value and give the state steady money.
The approach taken by Governor Ododo is straightforward but uncommon: if something doesn’t help the people, it doesn’t deserve their money. The stinginess that ought to be imitated is this one.
The critics who earlier griped that he wasn’t “spending” enough on pointless items are now facing a government that is sensibly spending in addition to spending.
At a time when some politicians still think that satisfying a select few is the goal of governing, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is demonstrating that true leadership is about standing with the majority, even if it means disappointing the egotistical few.
He has reinterpreted stinginess as a virtue of the public when it is used to defend the commonwealth against the avaricious interests of self-serving political manipulators.
Therefore, does Kogi benefit from Ododo’s stinginess? Parents’ relief smiles when they realize they no longer have to pay school fees, the newly lit villages, the renovated health centers, the changed schools, and the empowered hands of farmers and craftsmen who are finally reaping the benefits of democracy hold the key to the solution.
May the governors of Kogi remain stingy to the self-centered yet giving to the general welfare.
