Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has called on Christian and Muslim leaders across the state to protect young people from political manipulation and intensify sermons on peaceful coexistence.
Governor Ododo made the appeal while receiving leadership delegations from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) at the Government House, Lokoja.
Addressing the religious leaders, Ododo commended both bodies for fostering interfaith harmony and supporting state development through spiritual guidance.
“Religious leaders are not the problem of our state; rather, selfish political interests and the manipulation of young people for destructive purposes pose the greater threat,” Ododo said.
He urged the clerics to use pulpits and minbars in churches and mosques to actively discourage political thuggery and acts capable of breaching public peace ahead of upcoming elections.
Highlighting ongoing federal-state synergy, Ododo expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Kogi indigenes to key national positions and approving the state to host the upcoming Nigerian Army Annual Conference.
He also referenced major infrastructure projects—including the rehabilitation of the Abuja–Lokoja–Okene highway, the special agro-processing zone, and the proposed international airport—as economic interventions designed to create youth employment and sustain security.
In his remarks, the Kogi State Chairman of CAN, Adebayo Olaniyan, commended the governor for maintaining open communication channels with religious bodies and pledged continued cooperation toward promoting tolerance.
Similarly, the Chairman of JNI, Usman Bello, reaffirmed the Islamic organization’s support for the administration, pledging sustained prayers for the peace and development of the state.
