2027: “11 YEARS OF GOVERNANCE IN KOGI, SO FAR SO TERRIBLE” — HON. CORNELIUS OLOWO TACKLES ODODO TEAM OVER OKUN DEVELOPMENT
By Temiloluwa Samuel
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi West, Hon. Cornelius Olowo, has taken a swipe at the Ododo administration, accusing it of neglecting the Okun nation in terms of state and local government projects in the last 11 years.
Olowo’s reaction came on the heels of a video by a team led by Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), currently canvassing support for Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s re-election bid in 2027.
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In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, Olowo alleged that Okun people have been subjected to the ideology of _”it is not possible”_ in both Kogi State and Federal Civil Service until recently when some “Omo-Okun” began to break the jinx.
The APC chieftain listed what he described as federal-level interventions in Okun land, and questioned the impact of the state government.
“Who would have thought that someone can use his influence at the Federal level to build palaces for Traditional Rulers in Okun land? Who would have thought that over 100 Okun applicants can gain employment into grade A federal Agencies like CBN, RMAFC, FIRS and others at once? Who would have thought that Solar Street lights can brighten Okun streets at night the way it is today? Who would have thought that Okun will one day get a Federal University, a project ongoing already?” Olowo asked.
“This and several other major issues are of importance in our discussion towards 2027,” he added.
Olowo challenged the Omodara-led team going round for “Ododo 2027” to present a scorecard of state and local government projects in Okun land since February 2016 when the GYB administration took over.
“Okun Traditional Rulers should ask the team going round for Ododo 2027, where are the State and Local Government projects in Okun land since February 2016? Let them do Community by Community compilation and present it as a scorecard. Eleven years of governance in Kogi State, so far so terrible,” he said.
He further alleged that the same Traditional Rulers who have been neglected are now being mobilized for politics. “Most of them ride Okada to Traditional Council Meetings and take Taxi to Lokoja for official assignments,” he claimed.
Olowo recalled that the last governor to provide vehicles for traditional rulers was Governor Ibrahim Idris, who he said bought Prado Jeeps for First Class Obas, Toyota Avensis for Second Class, and Kia Rio for Third Class Obas.
The Kogi West politician also revisited the 2023 APC governorship primaries, alleging that 10 aspirants from Kogi West were asked to obtain forms only for them to later step down for Ododo.
“In 2023, GYB directed 10 of our brothers to go and obtain Governorship Nomination Forms, knowing fully well that he had resolved on Ododo, only to later organize a Press Conference where they all stepped down for Ododo one after another. GYB sees our people as seeds ‘omo ayo’ in the game of ‘opon ayo’. Very unfortunate!” he stated.
On infrastructure, Olowo singled out the Ekinrin-Adde to Ife-Olukotun road, awarded in 2016, saying “NOTHING was done on ground.” “Somebody said GYB and Ododo have done infrastructure in Okunland. I believe those “infrastructures” are only in the budgets kept away on their shelves — not on the ground.
“The Ekinrin-Adde to Ife-Olukotun road was awarded in 2016. It has probably been marked “completed” in their files and at the Accountant General’s office, but nothing has been done on the ground. Ironically, this is the road leading to the village of the woman who has been SSG in Kogi State for eleven years.
“Thank God for Right Honourable Abiodun Faleke, who delivered the Ekinrin-Adde to River Oyi portion last year. God bless him for us.
What will the SSG tell her people when she leaves office?”
He noted that it is the road leading to the village of the Secretary to the State Government. He, however, commended Hon. James Abiodun Faleke for constructing the portion from Ekinrin-Adde to River Oyi last year, and Senator Smart Adeyemi for projects in Iyara.
“I am from Ijumu LGA and I challenge anybody in government or supporting the GYB/Ododo government to mention the roads or hospitals or schools constructed in the last eleven years in Ijumu,” he challenged.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts to get reactions from the Kogi State Government and the Omodara-led team were ongoing.
The debate over zoning and development in Kogi West is expected to shape political alignments ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 23RD 2026)
