Kogi West Traditional Rulers Unanimously Reject Governor's Second Term Ambition
Traditional rulers from Kogi West Senatorial District have taken a firm stand against Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo's bid for a second term in office. The monarchs, operating under the umbrella of the Okun Leaders League (OLL), have unanimously declared their opposition to the governor's re-election plans for 2027, warning that this political move could heighten socio-economic disaffection throughout the state.
Security Meeting Diverted for Political Campaign
The conflict emerged after what was supposed to be a crucial security meeting turned into a political campaign event. According to the OLL, representatives across the five Okun local government areas received credible reports that Governor Ododo had invited chairmen of traditional councils—led by the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi—to what was described as a security meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2025.
Instead of addressing the worsening security challenges in Okunland, including kidnappings and killings, the governor allegedly diverted the meeting to canvass support for his 2027 re-election bid. The group expressed strong disappointment that rather than address pressing security concerns in the Okun area, Ododo reportedly veered off into campaigning for his political future.
Questionable Political Arrangement Exposed
The OLL further alleged that the governor spoke about a political arrangement designed by his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, which purportedly envisages that Kogi Central would match the four-term tenure of Kogi East before handing over power to Kogi West in 2031. The traditional rulers firmly rejected this notion, stating that Kogi State is not the personal estate of any individual or group who believe they have captured it and can selfishly dictate its political direction from their bedrooms.
The statement highlighted that when Kogi State was created 34 years ago, both Ododo and Bello were still teenagers with no knowledge of how and why the state came to be. The group argued that their combined 10 years in power had brought minimum value to social cohesion and development, describing Kogi State as one of the most backward in Nigeria, a situation they claim has worsened under the Bello-Ododo leadership.
Call for Governance Over Politics
The Okun Leaders League questioned why the governor wasn't engaging traditional rulers in Kogi East with the same intensity, despite that district having nine local governments, significantly more than Okunland. The group advised Governor Ododo to focus on governance rather than political maneuvering, specifically stating: OLL advises the governor to sit at his desk in Lokoja and see if he can redeem himself in the remaining two years of his mandate, rather than herding Okun royal fathers around like schoolchildren.
The statement was jointly signed by five prominent traditional rulers representing the various local government areas in Okunland: Canon Andrew Baiyekuhi (Kabba-Bunu), Mallam Qassim Yusuf (Ijumu), Dr. James Ogbondeminu (Mopamuro), Engr. Omobowale Palufe (Yagba East), and Chief Samuel Obaro (Yagba West). The monarchs collectively cautioned the governor against denigrating the royal institution of Okunland in his attempt to secure endorsements for a second term.
