Promoters of protests enemies of Nigeria, says Kogi gov
The Kogi State Government has vowed to comply with the Supreme Court's decision on local government autonomy.It further said that people advocating for a statewide demonstration at this time are enemies of Nigeria.
Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information, delivered the statement on Tuesday in Lokoja, the state capital, immediately after stakeholders met with members of the All Progressive Congress.
According to him, the governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has stated that the state government under his leadership will guarantee that democracy and the autonomy of Kogi Local Government Councils are maintained.
Ododo promised that the state's local government election on October 19, 2024, will be free, fair, and credible, and urged stakeholders to encourage women to vote.
"I urge our party to provide adequate space for women's engagement. I do not expect less than 40% of legislative seats in local government to go to women. They vote enormously in elections, and it is past time we engaged them into the decision-making process as a state.
"Under Governor Yahaya Bello's leadership, we were able to achieve 30% female representation. We should push it to 40% in the next election. I also want to encourage the candidates that emerge to run for the chairmanship.
“I will not impose any candidate. Let the people go and decide who represents them in their various local government areas and wards. When elected, I urge the councillors to also consider women as their council leaders. We are a state known for women’s inclusion and we must continue to push the women forward to the decision-making corridors,” he said.
The governor also urged Nigerians to continue to support President Bola Tinubu, saying he is doing more than enough to get the country back on track.
“Our President is working hard day and night to make our nation better. Protests won’t bring food. We are working hard to ensure food prices crash in the next couple of months. Anyone promoting destructive protests at this time is an enemy of Nigeria,” he said.
Ododo also used the occasion to confirm the fact that Kogi Local Government Councils have been autonomous since 2016, saying the difference now is that Local Government Councils’ allocations will now go directly into their accounts.
He urged the Local Government Councils to justify the efforts of Mr President by touching the lives of people at the grassroots.
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