*Ododo meets labour leaders, reiterates commitment to workers’ welfareI
brahim Oyewale in Lokija
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has expressed deep shock and sympathy over the recent killings as a result of communal clashes in Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who regretted the ugly dimension that the communal clashes had assumed, promised immediate intervention by his administration to forestall a reoccurrence of the unfortunate situation.
This was as the district head and traditional ruler, the Ochala Onu Ife of Bagaji-Odo in Omala His Royal Highness, David Akpa, narrated his ordeal in the crisis.
At the same time, Ododo has reiterated the commitment of his administration to improve the welfare of civil servants in the state.
The governor, who assured the people that the perpetrators of the dastardly act, who attacked the community would be brought to justice, added that security agencies were on the trail of the assailants whose acts of mindless cowardice resulted in the destruction of lives and property in the area.
Ododo, who had since sent a delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Elder Joel Oyibo Salifu, on a condolence visit to the area further assured that kinetic and non-kinetic measures deployed by the state government had led to relative stability in Omala Local Government Area until the recent escalation of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler has lamented that the people of the area did not possess sophisticated weapons to confront the herdsmen, responsible for the killing 25 people in Agojeju-Odo community.
The monarch, who disclosed this while narrating the ordeal of the people of the community to journalists, who visited his community for an on-the-spot assessment after Thursday attack said Agojeju-Odo community had been completely deserted.
Onu Ife Bagaji-Odo explained that the residents of the affected community had relocated the distract headquarters, Bagaji Odo, Abejikolo, Acha and other neighboring communities over fear of further attack.
However, Ododo while briefing newsmen after an interactive session with Labour leaders noted that the meeting was to review critical steps so far taken by the state to address the impact of the economic downturn, especially as they affect workers in the public sector.
“We have come to interface with the leadership of the organised labour as usual because this is one of the legacies of our leader, His Excellency, the former Governor of Kogi state laid down for us to continue.
“We had a very robust conversation with the organized labour, the NLC, the TUC and other unions in the state. This is an opportunity for us to discuss not only the welfare of civil servants, but the affairs of our dear state which we have all been elected by our people to serve,” Ododo said.
The Governor restated his determination to make the welfare of workers a major priority of the administration, stressing that the interface with workers would be a regular part of his engagement with critical stakeholders for the progress and development of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the labour unions in the state, the chairman of NLC, Mr Amari Gabriel expressed happiness for the interventions of the governor in the welfare of workers in the state in barely over two months of his administration.
