••• Alleges Collapse of Kogi Health Sector
Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Isaiah Ijele, has accused Governor Usman Ododo of running what he described as an “Okene-for-Okene” government, while neglecting critical sectors like healthcare across the state.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, as monitored by Roving Reporters, Ijele said the state’s hospitals, especially in rural areas, are in “a state of total collapse,” with some lacking even a single doctor.
“In my local government alone, the general hospital is a mess. If you give me two hours, I can send you fresh, live video footage showing the dilapidated state of the facilities. Patients are suffering because there’s no medical personnel and no functional infrastructure,” he said.
Ijele alleged that while healthcare and other social services decay, the state’s resources and appointments are being concentrated in Okene Local Government, the governor’s hometown.
“Seven projects awarded last week all went to Okene. The Chief of Staff is from Okene, the Commissioner for Justice is from Okene, Finance—Okene, Lands—Okene, Internal Revenue—Okene. It is as if the government of Kogi State has been reduced to the government of Okene,” he stated.
The SDP spokesman also claimed that the Ododo administration lacks a pre-election manifesto, unlike his party, which he said presented a printed, detailed plan to the electorate before the November 11, 2023 election.
“This is why governance in Kogi today is about politics of favoritism, nepotism, and tribal bias,” he added.
