When the people of Kogi State cast their votes in the 2023 gubernatorial election, choosing to align their future with the All Progressives Congress (APC) by electing Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, it was not just a political decision, it was a resounding endorsement of a legacy. It was an affirmation of the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, whose administration demonstrated rare courage in confronting the fiscal rot that once held Kogi State in a stranglehold.
Upon assuming office in 2016, former Governor Yahaya Bello inherited a state buried under heavy debts and a backlog of unpaid salaries from the ruins of the Peoples Democratic Party. He took charge of a financial system riddled with inefficiencies, leakages, and systemic abuses. Recognizing the urgent need for what he described as “fiscal surgery,” Yahaya Bello adopted stringent financial discipline to restore credibility, liquidity, and stability to Kogi’s economy.
His first major step was to clear the backlog of workers’ salaries, a long-standing burden that had demoralized the state’s workforce. But more boldly, he launched one of the most audacious and painful yet impactful civil service reforms in the state’s history. This reform, though initially met with resistance and discomfort, was pivotal in eliminating ghost workers and erasing fictitious claims that were draining public coffers. What began as a tough pill to swallow eventually became the pathway to a healthier, more transparent public service structure; one in which legitimate workers became the true beneficiaries.
Yahaya Bello’s legacy in financial management was not just about plugging holes; it was also about long-term sustainability. From a debt profile of over ₦100 billion, his administration prudently reduced the state’s liabilities to less than ₦100 billion, all while executing ambitious infrastructure projects, improving human capital development, and spearheading urban renewal and job creation across the state.
This commitment to financial probity laid the groundwork for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s seamless succession. Having served as Auditor-General for Local Government under the Yahaya Bello administration, Ododo brought to office a deep familiarity with the intricacies of governance and a firsthand understanding of what it meant to entrench accountability and fiscal order, especially at the grassroots—the tier of government closest to the people.
With the granting of Local Government Autonomy by the Bello-led administration and as the Auditor-General, Ododo played a pivotal role in raising local government salary payments from a precarious 15% to a much-improved 75% before the administration wound down in January 2024. This was not just a statistical improvement; it was a reflection of a deep-rooted philosophy that salaries and pensions are not privileges but rights that must be honored consistently.
Graciously, the monthly allocation to the State, which previously hovered between ₦2.5 billion and ₦3.2 billion during the fuel subsidy regime under the former administration has now witnessed a significant and commendable increase, having quadrupled in value and figures following the removal of the subsidy. This substantial boost in revenue under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu #RenewedHope agenda has translated into greater financial flexibility, enhanced financial capacity , and increased availability of funds to meet the developmental needs and governance priorities of the state.
It is no surprise then, that Ododo was not only the natural successor to continue Yahaya Bello’s legacy but also the most qualified—technically, morally, and professionally—to consolidate the gains made. From the day of his swearing-in on January 27, 2024, Governor Ododo hit the ground running, reinforcing and expanding upon the key pillars of development: civil service reform, infrastructure growth, health sector revitalization, education improvement, and enhanced security.
However, the most historic and widely celebrated milestone of his young administration came just fifteen months into his tenure: the liquidation of Kogi State’s ₦98.8 billion debt. For the first time since its creation in 1991, Kogi State became debt-free—a feat that reverberated across Nigeria’s economic and political circles. This was more than just a financial achievement; it was a redefinition of how state governments can responsibly manage public resources.
The implications of this monumental achievement are both immediate and long-term. A debt-free Kogi can now plan with greater clarity, independence, and foresight. The burden of recurring debt servicing is gone, making room for more targeted investments in critical sectors. More importantly, the state becomes a beacon for investors both locally and internationally, who now see Kogi as a stable, secure, and investment-ready destination with credible leadership and consistent policies.
Governor Ododo has proven that fiscal responsibility is not a campaign slogan but a governance principle.
His commitment to financial transparency and economic revitalization echoes the very values that earned Kogi three awards for Accountability, Transparency, and Fiscal Responsibility from the World Bank during Yahaya Bello’s administration. It is also heartwarming to note with keen interest that Kogi’s fiscal discipline and financial accountability was widely acknowledged and rewarded by the World Bank when it returned $4.63 million surplus funds of World Bank intervention fund to Plateau.
Another area where Ododo’s administration is sustaining the legacy of his predecessor is the aspect of security. Before 2015, no inch of Kogi’s territorial land was free of insecurity. With the meager resources available to the state, Bello was able to quell the rising tide of insecurity—in some cases leading security agencies to the criminals’ abodes while demolishing their illicit wealth to serve as a deterrent against criminality.
In October 2024, Governor Ododo took the message of a transformed Kogi to the global stage when he met with Yan Yuqing, the Consular General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos. That engagement opened strategic conversations around partnerships in agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and infrastructure—further reinforcing Kogi’s attractiveness as an investment hub.
By May 2025, the Governor led a high-level delegation to Hunan Province, China, securing a landmark partnership under the China-Africa Economic and Trade Partnership (CAETP). The “Sister City” collaboration agreement will unlock Kogi’s vast agricultural and mineral resources while accelerating industrial development and innovation.
Governor Ododo emphasized Kogi’s advantages: its arable land, rich mineral endowment, abundant water bodies, and strategic location that connects Nigeria’s major economic corridors. He painted a vivid picture of a state poised for an agro-industrial revolution, driven by well-crafted policies and sustainable investments. His message was simple yet profound: Kogi is open for business—serious business.
Ododo stated: “Kogi’s fertile soil and conducive weather make it an ideal location for large-scale farming and agro-industrial ventures, while its untapped mineral wealth including iron ore, limestone, and coal positions it as a powerhouse for manufacturing and mining. Our rivers and water bodies provide ample opportunities for irrigation, aquaculture, and hydroelectric power generation, ensuring that development is not only rapid but sustainable.”
His sound economic decisions are not accidental. They are the result of years of experience, deep institutional knowledge, and a governance model that puts people first. By delisting Kogi from Nigeria’s list of indebted states, Governor Ododo has cemented his reputation as a fiscally responsible leader and a worthy successor in the APC administration in Kogi State.
While campaigning for Ahmed Usman Ododo in 2023, former Governor Yahaya Bello repeatedly told the people: “I have done my best as governor for eight years, considering where the state was when I took over. Ododo could have been an Igala, an Okun, or from any other tribe in Kogi. His emergence as our party’s candidate was not about ethnicity but about compassion, patriotism, and his deep love for the people of our dear state. My greatest political legacy will be for Ahmed Usman Ododo to surpass my administration, because no father wishes to be greater than his children.” Today, it is common knowledge that Governor Ododo is performing exceptionally well, earning widespread admiration and bringing a deep sense of fulfillment to the people and the All Progressives Congress Party.
As the Confluence State marches into a greater future, one thing is certain: the combination of fiscal discipline, keying into the visionary leadership style of his boss, Alh Yahaya Adoza Bello CON, and a business-friendly environment positions Kogi as one of Nigeria’s rising economic frontiers. And for that, the people of Kogi and indeed all Nigerians have every reason to be optimistic.
Dr Abdulazeez Alfa, FCA
Abuja
FCT