Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo has urged Nigerians to support the various economic reform policies being implemented by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the reforms would begin to yield good results for the nation’s future and those of her citizen in no distant time. The governor has also hinted that the state under his watch is working assiduously towards increasing food production in the state by investing massively in mechanised agriculture.

Speaking at the just concluded two-day annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers GOCOP, held in Lokoja, the state capital, Governor Ododo noted that all hands must at this time be on deck towards supporting the reform policies of the current administration, which would take the country’s economy out of the woods.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Joel Salifu, the governor noted that embarking on protests against the reforms would only prove counterproductive, as the country currently needs such reforms to transform the economy for sustainable growth and development in no distant time from its current state of stagnation.

The governor also frowned at calls on Nigerians by a segment of the society to ‘take back their country’, noting that the country is currently being governed by Nigerians and as such one cannot take back what is already in his or her hands.

He also urged the citizens to specifically support the full deregulation of the country’s petroleum sector, which he argued would be in the best interest of the common citizens, as government cannot afford to do things the same way and expect a different result.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to Nigerians, including the media, especially members of GOCOP, who are present here to support the laudable reforms of the current administration. When you throw a little boy into the stream, it will be tough at the beginning but with time he will stabilise.

“That is what is happening to the country’s currency, the naira now. It is economically unproductive to spend huge amounts of money to defend the naira. It is wiser to allow the naira to defend itself in a free market. It is plausible to note that our economic managers are watching the situation closely and I know that we will soon get there.

“The decision of Mr. President to deregulate the petroleum sector is in the best interest of the common man and I can assure you that he is taking the right decisions to reposition our dear nations to make it great again. Let us all support him on these laudable initiatives. Those that are telling Nigerians to take back their nation are probably living in the past because you cannot take back what is already in your hands. Nigeria is already in the hands of Nigerians.

“The question that should be agitating our minds should be what do we do with Nigeria? All of us must contribute our quotas and support our dear president, who is working day and night to make this country great again. The people of Kogi State will not join any protest because we are seeing the impacts the president is making”, he said emphatically.

While assessing his administration, which will mark one year in office in the next few months, Governor Ododo disclosed that his administration on assumption of duty, immediately hit the ground running by embarking on massive road construction, upgrading primary healthcare centres across the state, improving education and massive investment in agriculture to boost food supply.

He said: “We are doing our protests in the farms by massively investing in food production. Protests won’t bring down the price of food but mechanised farming will do that. Labour unions, youths and women organisations are parts of our administration so that everybody will feel a sense of belonging.

“The government is an all-inclusive one, notwithstanding your religious, tribal, education and location. This is the peoples’ government. We thank Mr. President for making the people of Kogi State safe. The onslaught against insecurity in the state has been ceaseless and we will not tke our feet off the pedals until we completely win the war against banditry.

“We are silently turning things around here in Kogi State. Our administration has subscribed to the Open Governance Initiative and our doors are open to all. We have also signed into law the Kogi State Anti-Corruption Agency law with a view to ensuring that our resources work for the people. Our administration is committed to protecting the Journalism profession and journalists because with freedom of expression, our nation will not attain greatness.”

The governor therefore enjoined members of GOCOP to retain the high level of patriotism and professionalism for which they have been known over the years and assured that the state would continue to partner the group in its quest to practice developmental journalism.