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Kogi state governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has issued a strong warning against political violence, urging youths to reject any inducement that could lead them to harm fellow citizens in the name of elections.
Governor Ododo gave the warning on Monday at the Government House Lokoja while receiving a delegation of Lokoja Ward A people, led by Hon. Nda Aaron, who visited to express appreciation for the dividends they had received through the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor, in a passionate appeal to the youth, declared that he would never encourage them to take up arms for political purposes, stressing that no political ambition was worth the blood of any Kogite.
“If I ask you to come and collect guns to use for election, tell me to give them to my biological children,” Ododo said, emphasising that young people must not allow themselves to be used as instruments of violence by politicians.
He cautioned the youths against being lured into committing acts of violence for insignificant financial rewards, urging them to recognise their worth and protect their future rather than sacrifice their lives and freedom for the interests of others.
The governor also encouraged the youths to believe in their potential, recalling his humble beginnings in a remote village and how, with God’s support, he rose to become the governor of Kogi State.
“If I can stand here, you can even go higher than myself. Most of you are lucky to have been born in the city, while I was born in a very small, remote village. With God supporting you, you can achieve even greater things,” he said.
Ododo urged the young people to draw inspiration from his personal journey and refuse to allow their backgrounds or present circumstances to limit their ambitions.
He challenged them to look inward, develop confidence in their abilities and pursue opportunities that could transform their lives.
“What are we looking for that will make us kill our fellow human beings? How can you take the life of another person?” he asked, appealing to the youths to embrace peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity.
The governor urged the youths to reject the temptation of quick financial gains at the expense of their future, reminding them that their lives and aspirations were more valuable than any inducement offered to perpetrate violence.
He maintained that young people should channel their energy into productive activities and constructive participation in the political process, rather than allow themselves to be drawn into conflicts that could destroy families, communities and their own prospects.
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