2027: Group cautions traditional rulers in Kogi West endorsing Ododo

A pressure group championing the interests of the western senatorial zone of Kogi State, Okun Leaders League, OLL, has sent a strong warning to traditional rulers in the six local government of the zone to be wary of any arrangement that does not promote the political interest of their people.

The call was made in a statement signed by representatives of the local governments against news of a visit to Kabba by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a political meeting with traditional rulers of Okun land.

The statement suggested that the meeting was called to jettison the gubernatorial dream of Okun people in 2027.

But the group cautioned the royal fathers not to endorse any plans that will threaten the aspiration of the people of the senatorial zone to produce the next governor of the state.

The statement reads in full:

“It has come to the attention of the Okun Leaders League, OLL, that a meeting has reportedly been scheduled between the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo and the Okun Traditional Council, for Friday October 31, 2025. The said meeting, which is purported for Kabba, headquarters of Kabba-Bunu council area, is intended to seek the endorsement of the Okun traditional institution for a second term for Ododo, come 2027.

“Information at the disposal of OLL suggests that Okunland will be baited with the position of Deputy Governor on the Ododo ticket for the 2027 gubernatorial poll. The aim is to effectively extinguish the aspirations of the good people of Okunland for the governorship office which has serially eluded them in the 34 year history of Kogi State, but more currently since the beginning of the Fourth Republic 26 years ago.

“To refresh our collective memories, by 2027, the Igala ethnicity in Kogi East would have held the office of Kogi State Governor for 16 years post-1999, while the Ebiras would have held the same position for 12 years. History reminds us that in the Second Republic in the old Kwara State, Alhaji Adamu Atta from Ebiraland served as governor for four years between 1979 and 1983. In Nigeria’s Third Republic, Prince Abubakar Audu served as Kogi State Governor for two years. When these figures are added, it sums up that while the Igala ethnic group has held the office of Governor for 18 years, the Ebiras would have occupied the same office for 16 years by 2027.

“In this curious leadership statistics in Kogi State, the Okun nationality which is supposed to be the third leg of the sociopolitical tripod in Kogi State has been utterly relegated in the governance scheme. On two occasions between 1992 and 1993, and between 2012 and 2016, Okun sons served as Deputy Governor of Kogi State. In Nigeria’s political system, we know too well that deputies are nothing but dispensable “spare tyres” who breathe and function at the sole discretion of their principals. They are toothless, powerless, and incapable of bringing home the dividends of growth and progress, which we all crave in a democracy.

“Okun Leaders League therefore calls upon our royal fathers to resist consenting to any arrangement calculated to hoodwink, cajole, and undermine the collective intelligence of our people. Much as they are appointees of the state government, they are primarily custodians of our customs and traditions who are expected to be totally non-partisan and apolitical. Okun traditional rulers must reject anything and everything that will set them up against their people, irrespective of the level of material inducement or intimidation that has characterized godfather politics in Kogi State within the past decade.

“Our numbers and support have been leveraged in the past to raise governors in Kogi State. Since the unbroken run of democratic rule in 1999, Kogi State has produced five governors, and not one has been from Okunland. To borrow from the evergreen lyrics of the iconic reggae artist Bob Marley, “we’ve been trampled upon for far too long.” Okun people reject any attempt to insult and patronise us with the position of Deputy Governor. We must warn that any individual or group of individuals who accept any denigrating office for self gratification, purportedly on behalf of the Okun nation straddling Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West, does so at his or her own peril.”

The statement was endorsed by Group Captain Denja Mahmud rtd, Oworo, Lokoja; Canon Andrew Baiyekuhi Kabba-Bunu; Mallam Qassim Yusuf, Ijumu; Dr James Ogbondeminu, Mopamuro; Engineer Omobowale Palufe, Yagba East; and Chief Samuel Obaro, Yagba West.