By Lami Ibrahim
Ahead of the November 11 governorship poll in kogi state, the governorship candidate of the All progressive congress, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the weekend visited the Obaro palace , Kabba to solicit for the support of the Ilajo Royal family in the election.
The governorship candidate who came in a large entourage said he found it very important to visit the family for their support as he was going round for campaigns and pleaded with the family to vote for him during the election so that he can continue with the good works of governor Yahaya Bello.
He said if voted into power he will take the state to an enviable heights and ensure that there is rapid transformation of the state with provision of social amenities and employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
He assured that the newly established state university in Kabba would soon commence academic activities, stressing that the governor has already released necessary funds for the smooth take- off and stressed that the first set of recruited staff will resume work before the year runs out.
Ododo said the people can not afford to vote for other party as
President Bola Tinubu has a well laid out blueprint for the country and urged them to continue to support the ruling party.
Ododo was welcomed into the palace with pomp and pageantry by the elders, youths and women of the Royal family who came out in large numbers in colorful attires .
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Youth leader of the Ilajo Royal family, Prince Jacob Arokoyo thanked the governorship candidate for deeming it necessary to visit the palace saying governor Yahaya Bello did the same thing seven years ago when he came for royal blessings from the late Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michael Olobayo during the build up to the 2015 governorship election.
He said the visit was symbolic because Ododo sat at the same spot and wore
the same attires when Alhaji Yahaya Bello visited the palace seven years ago and prayed for his landslide victory at the poll.
An APC stalwart and governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Banji Jimoh who was one of the aspirants that stepped down for Ododo before the party’s primary described the Ilajo Royal family as very reliable ally when it comes to election matters saying once they decide to support any candidate they do it with utmost totality.
The APC stalwart commended governor Yahaya Bello for transforming the state and for establishing another state university in Kabba and assured the governorship candidate of the people’s support.
The governorship candidate was later taken into the inner chambers of the palace where prayers were offered for him by elders of the Royal family led by High Chief Peter Oloba.
Among those in the entourage of the governorship hopeful to the palace are the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Abdulsalami Ozigi, Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, the State Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara, the Kabba-Bunu House of Assembly member, Hon Seyi Bello and an APC chieftain and a reputable bank executive, Mr Banji Jimoh.
Others are the ALGON Chairman and Ijumu Local government chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Isa, the kabba- bunu council chairman, Moses Olorunleke, Provost Kogi State College of Education Technical Dr Mrs Victoria Jagboro, a chairmanship aspirant, Mr Segun Arokoyo among others.
