Kogi State governor Ahmed Ododo has commended the Nigerian Military for restoring peace to communities ravaged by crises in the Omala Local Government Area of the state.
Ododo gave the commendation while on a security tour to the military Forward Operating Base, FOB, at Bagana community in Omala on Monday.
The governor addressed the officers and men of the FOB and expressed his happiness over the military’s efforts to bring lasting peace to the area.
“I am here to sincerely appreciate the officers and men of the military forward operating base for the great job you are doing in restoring peace to the Bagana community and its environs. My coming here today is to reaffirm my commitment to serving my people, especially at the grassroots, to ensure that their lives and livelihoods are safe and secured.
“The last time I came to this community for on-the-spot assessment after the crises, I wept when I saw the level of destruction as well as lives that were lost. Then, I promised to facilitate the establishment of a military forward operating base in this community, and today the promise has been fulfilled,” he said.
Ododo appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his full support towards ensuring adequate protection for the lives and property of the people of the state. Ododo reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to give total support to the military and other security agencies in ensuring the safety of lives and property of residents.
The governor, who thereafter held a brief meeting with the leaders and people of the community, urged the residents to continue to embrace peace and avoid being used as agents of destruction by selfish politicians.
“I want to beg all of you, my people to continue to embrace peace to bring development to your community.
The security men are here to protect you and your property, and I urge you to give them your full support to aid their effective performance in protecting your lives and property.
“Some few politicians because of their selfish interest, are now using politics to deceive me and you; we will not allow them to destroy us. I have signed to protect your interests and I will never play with your affairs. Politics is over, and it is time for good governance,” Ododo said.
Earlier, the Chairman, of Omala LGA, Hon. Mark Edigbo commended the governor for his tireless efforts towards bringing lasting solutions to the incessant crises in the area.
“Your Excellency, we appreciate you for fulfilling your promise to establish FOB and for your full support to ensure that peace is restored to the people of Bagana and the entire Omala LGA.
“Bagana is sharing boundaries with Nassarawa and Benue States and had been bedevilled with incessant communal crises. But since you came to Bagana in May 2024, we have not witnessed any kind of crisis till now.
You have done a great job for the Omala people and we are proud of you. We are fully ready to give you our total support now and in the future,” Edigbo said.
Also speaking, the Onu Ife and Chairman Omala Traditional Council, HRH Boniface Musa, commended the governor for his timely intervention and commitment to seeing that peace and normalcy were restored to Omala.
The governor was accompanied by the Commander 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Oluremi Fadairo; Commander NNS Lugard, T. Senibi; and the State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara rtd, among others.