LOKOJA—Two-time former Commissioner for Information in Kogi State and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has accused Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration of failing to address critical developmental challenges confronting the state.
Ohikere, who made the assessment in an interview, acknowledged improvements in the regular payment of workers’ salaries and what he described as relative peace in the state, but said the administration had fallen short in key areas including water supply, healthcare, education, job creation, infrastructure and economic development.
He also declared that power should shift to Kogi West in the 2027 governorship election, arguing that the senatorial district had been excluded from producing a governor despite the long tenures of Kogi East and Kogi Central.
Assessing the Ododo administration, Ohikere said its emphasis on continuity and stability was commendable but insufficient to meet the broader development needs of the 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,” he said.
However, he argued that the government had failed to demonstrate the urgency and innovation required to transform the lives of residents.
“The government has not demonstrated the level of urgency, innovation and delivery required to transform people’s lives. Road projects are ongoing, but the pace of execution remains slow,” he said.
Ohikere urged the government to accelerate the completion of critical infrastructure capable of improving the movement of people, goods and services across the state.
He also expressed concern over the state of healthcare, particularly at the Primary Health Centre level, saying many facilities still lacked essential drugs, adequate personnel and basic infrastructure.
“A government cannot claim meaningful development when citizens still struggle to access basic healthcare close to their homes,” he said.
On education, the former commissioner said greater investment was needed in teacher training and school infrastructure, particularly in rural communities.
He said Kogi required properly equipped schools, motivated teachers and an education system capable of preparing young people for the future.
Water crisis
Ohikere identified the state’s water crisis as one of the most critical failures of the present administration.
He specifically criticised the alleged abandonment of the Greater Lokoja Water Works, which he said was constructed under the administration of former Governor Ibrahim Idris and remained functional until the present government came into office.
“The Greater Lokoja Water Works, located in Lokoja, was built by the Ibrahim Idris administration and was functional until this government came on board. It has now been abandoned,” he alleged.
He expressed similar concern over the situation in Kogi Central, noting that residents continued to struggle for potable water despite the presence of Ekuku Dam, Okene Water Works and Osara Dam.
“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,” he said.
He consequently argued that the administration had failed the state in critical sectors despite its achievements in salary payments and maintaining relative peace.
“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,” he said.
Continuity not enough, says Ohikere
On the administration’s claim of consolidating the achievements of its predecessor, Ohikere said continuity was only meaningful when it resulted in tangible improvements.
“Continuity is valuable when it leads to improvement. The government has done well to maintain peace and ensure more consistent salary payments,” he said.
He, however, warned that consolidation should not amount to simply maintaining the status quo.
“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,” he said.
Ohikere maintained that the abandonment of critical projects, particularly water infrastructure, demonstrated what he described as a lack of commitment to completing projects capable of directly improving residents’ lives.
Workers’ welfare
On workers’ welfare, salaries and pensions, Ohikere acknowledged that there had been an improvement in salary payments, saying the development had restored some confidence among civil servants.
“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,” he said.
However, he said an ADC government would go beyond regular salary payments by implementing what he called a “Workers First Policy”.
According to him, the policy would include the phased clearance of pension backlogs, health insurance for workers and pensioners, and improved workplace conditions.
“Workers deserve dignity beyond just a salary,” he said.
2027: ADC promises different approach
Looking ahead to the 2027 governorship election, Ohikere said the ADC would pursue a different development strategy if given the mandate to govern Kogi State.
He said the party would prioritise workers’ welfare, completion of abandoned projects, access to water and basic social services.
He proposed what he described as the “Burden of Completion Principle”, under which an ADC administration would audit abandoned projects and establish a two-year timeline for their completion.
“We will audit all abandoned projects and set a two-year timeline to complete them. Water is a right, not a privilege,” he said.
Ohikere also criticised the practice of commencing new projects without completing existing ones, insisting that government should provide citizens with clear information on the status and cost of public projects.
“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,” he said.
‘Kogi West deserves 2027 governorship’
Ohikere also made a strong case for power to shift to Kogi West in 2027, arguing that political fairness and inclusion demanded such an arrangement.
He noted that Kogi East had produced governors for 17 years, while Kogi Central had occupied the governorship for 12 years, leaving Kogi West without a governor.
“Kogi East has produced governors for 17 years. Kogi Central for 12 years. Kogi West has had zero years. For fairness, unity and justice, the governorship in 2027 must go to Kogi West,” he said.
He stressed that the demand was not intended to deny other parts of the state their political rights, but to promote a sense of inclusion among the three senatorial districts.
“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,” he said.
‘Palliatives not solution to hardship’
On the rising cost of living, Ohikere said the Ododo administration’s response had been inadequate, arguing that palliatives could not substitute for sustainable economic policies.
He said the rising cost of food and transportation had placed enormous pressure on households across the state.
“The response so far has been inadequate. Palliatives are not a sustainable policy,” he said.
According to him, workers, traders, farmers, students and small-business owners were all grappling with higher costs of transportation, food, accommodation and other basic necessities.
He urged the state government to adopt measures capable of addressing the structural causes of economic hardship rather than relying primarily on temporary relief.
Tinubu’s reforms have brought pain — Ohikere
Commenting on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ohikere rejected the Federal Government’s argument that Nigerians were beginning to benefit from its economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange regime.
“No, Nigerians are not seeing benefits. They are experiencing pain,” he said.
Ohikere argued that the reforms had increased hardship, pushed up the cost of living and placed businesses and households under greater pressure.
“A reform that increases poverty, closes businesses and makes food unaffordable is not a reform. It is a policy failure,” he said.
He faulted the timing and sequencing of the reforms, arguing that the government should have strengthened domestic production and repaired the country’s refineries before removing the subsidy.
“You do not remove subsidies before fixing refineries. You do not float the naira before boosting local production,” he said.
According to him, the Federal Government had “put the pain first and promised gains later”, a strategy he described as neither compassionate nor effective.
Ohikere maintained that the ADC would seek to provide an alternative political and economic direction, both at the state and national levels, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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