Honourable Danladi Ibrahim Bababudan has served the people of Kogi State at various levels. A thoroughbreed politicians who has carved a niche for himself in the aspect of responsive governance where interest and welfare of the people is prioritized. In this Exclusive interview with our Kogi State correspondent, Wale Ore, he looked into Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s performance and pointed out grey areas to improve upon.
Excerpts
To the public, how do you want us to present you?
My name is Honourable Danladi Ibrahim Bababudan. At a time, I was the Vice Chairman Lokoja Local Government Area and later Chairman of the Council. Thereafter, I represented my constituency which is Lokoja two at the State House of Assembly. I was also a Special Adviser to a one time Governor, that is His Excellency Captain Idris Wada. So to some extent. I am very very versatile with the politics of our people in Lokoja Local Government and I have served at various times.
Of recent, the current Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo celebrated his one year in office as the Governor of Kogi State. What is your assessment?
Yes. My assessment of him sincerely since the last three hundred and sixty five days is excellent. He has performed creditably well because Kogi State is a place that I know and I am vast with. I have played politics and I have participated in governance. His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo has performed tremendously well and for that, I am wishing him a very successful tenure. When you look at his administration in terms of human capital development, he scored excellently well. Civil servants are paid as at when due, their entitlement are paid and to some extent, some past political office holders that are being owed are equally being paid.
Also, in terms of security, I am sure even not quite long, you will hear that some criminals were apprehended and the statistics of kidnapping and armed robbery or violent crimes in Kogi State have been brought down.
We cannot also forget another important aspect he has addressed. That is the financial aspect of the State which has been boosted. You can see that he has reduced the level of debt the state is owed. Kogi State which before now has been owing about three hundred billion, that has been reduced within this one year. Infact, his performance are so numerous but let me just look at this areas. He has performed well and I give him credit for that.
Sir, no doubt there are likely areas you will want him to look into to earn more kudos?
Cuts in. Yes, to my mind. I am appealing to his Excellency to offset the dept of captain Idris Wada to his political appointees. Those that Captain Idris Wada worked with, he was owing them about four months salaries. They are part and percel of Kogi State. His Excellency should look back and try to offset that debt. The previous administration for eight years paid them only one month. So the rest three months should be paid. I am appealing to him to do that. If he does that, his name will be written in gold in the history of Kogi State.
Sir, a little more into politics, there are calls here and there for you to vye for a political position. What is your reaction to the development?
Yes you see, service in politics is service to humanity. Sincerely if I have the opportunity to serve again, I will be happy to do that because it is a service to the people.
You have served under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), right now All Progressive Congress (APC) is on board and very many key players in PDP have navigated. What is your move?
Political parties is just a tool like I earlier said, politics is core service to the people. In Nigeria, the parties don’t operate on ideology. They operate freely. If I find myself to serve in whatever capacity and under whatever political affiliations, I am ready to do that. PDP, APC, LP, SDP. We are all one and you will discover that Nigerians are crisscrossing from one various political parties to another. So the question does not matter since it has to be the service to the people.
