It is with gratitude to Almighty Allah that l want to appreciate the Chairman and Members of the National Working Committee of Accord Party, the State Chairman of the Party and Delegates to this Primary for the election of Party Candidate for the November 2023 Gubernatorial election. I am very grateful to the delegates,the State and National Working Committee Members of the Accord Party for this rare privilege of your mandate as the Candidate and Flag bearer of the party for the November 2023 Kogi State Governorship election after a primary process which has just been concluded in line with the provisions of the electoral act.
I value this historic mandate,it is dear to me because the emotions and expectations of our people,the ordinary people are attached to the conduct and outcome of this Primary election.
Ladies and gentlemen, l am here on a rescue mission, to renew the hope of our people, the silent majority, that a new and better Kogi State is possible.
This event is a another bold step since the consummation of my resolve to dedicate myself to the service of our people and to rescue our state from the ravages of maladministration and inept leadership after severe pressure from well meaning Kogites.
As you may be aware, our state is facing very serious challenges at the moment and times like this demand the intervention of men who have the courage,vision, capacity and competence and are prepared to confront and resolve those challenges in the interest of the masses.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the past few years, our state has degenerated rapidly, leadership has failed in meeting its obligations to the governed, development has come to a stand still, infrastructures and basic s,ocial services have broken down completely.
The State Civil Service is in a state of despair, decay and degeneration, our Local Governments councils are lost in percentage payment of salaries with no end at sight. Their morale is at the lowest ebb. Their condition is very bad. The socio-economic situation of our people has dwindled, deteriorated and worsened in the last few years. The disturbing state of our economy and state of affairs are a pointer to the fact that our state is on a dark lane. Kogi is under siege, held hostage and on life support.
Ladies and gentlemen, the poverty index of Kogi State is very high inspite of our abundant human and natural economic assets which places us as the most economically viable State in Nigeria. The abundance entitles us to a higher level of prosperity than what currently obtains.
Kogi needs a new story, things can not continue this way. A change is desirable.
To pull the State from the brink calls for visionary, competent, people oriented, purposeful and inspiring leadership, a leadership that can create possibilities and turn challenges into opportunities development and individual prosperity of citizens.
Iam certain that the current negative indicators are not our destiny and l have always maintained that in the midst of these depressing signals of leadership failure, there is always hope for a new beginning under a competent, purposeful and focused leadership which l intend to provide.
Distinguished delegates, this is part of the challenge that propels my decision to seek your mandate to contest the Kogi State 2023 Governorship election on the platform of our Party on a rescue mission so that Kogi State can fulfill its destiny in contemporary Nigeria.
Ladies and gentlemen, Kogi State at the moment needs a Governor that is Intune with the realities and dynamism of the moment, a Governor who can think out of the box to provide solutions to challenges to redesign the structure of our tomorrow from the debris of the moment, to quickly rescue and rebuild the State from the ravages of mal-administration and to reposition the State on the part of growth and sustainable development.
Our people have suffered enough, therefore this is not a time to entrust governance into the hands of a stooge by appointing a cousin on the same impoverished people.
On my part, my leadership style shall be all inclusive, characterized by consensus building and popular participation based on the fundamental principles of transparency, accountability, equity, fairness and justice anchored on the overall interest of the people and the promotion of prosperity for all.
Fellow Kogites, Kogi State has encountered its darkest moments in our political history in the last few years. this underscores the Shakespearean truism, that the darkest part of the night also heralds the break of a new day.
Admiral Jibrin Usman (RTD) is the movement and the new dawn. I am here on a rescue mission, please join me on this mission.
I count on your support and good sense of judgement in the days ahead to realizing my vision of a better Kogi State.
Ladies and gentlemen, respected national leaders of our great Party, delegates, party members, friends and associates, l thank you all.
Please note that with your mandate today, KOGI has reached an Accord with me and Kogites would not be let down, insha Allah.
God bless you.
Admiral Jibrin Usman (RTD).
