Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo: The Signpost Governor of the Year?
By Jerry Adesewo
As I travelled recently through Kabba, Lokoja, and Okene, I could swear the entire Kogi State had been renamed Ododo Republic. His name is everywhere — on bridges, on school walls, on boreholes, even on bus stops. I half expected to find “Ododo Pure Water” and “Ododo Bread” in circulation. If signposts were projects, Kogi would now be Dubai.
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So, it is only fitting — and in fact, long overdue — that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo be crowned “Signpost Governor of the Year.” One can hardly sneeze in Kogi without bumping into a reminder of Ododo’s benevolence. The only other leader in recent memory has demonstrated such a consistent commitment to visibility, at least in the literal sense is the Ministet of FCT, Barristet Nyesom Wike, whose billboards litter the FCT.
But before we rush to the podium for applause, a few inconvenient questions linger in the air like the Harmattan dust that never quite settles. Who is really governing Kogi State? Ododo, the new name on the signposts, or the shadow looming behind him, the former governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, from whom Ododo inherited both the seat and, some say, the steering wheel?
From Bello to Ododo — Same Okene, Different Signature
It would be unfair to deny Ododo his own handwriting. He has, after all, managed to maintain the tradition — that classic Nigerian ritual of development: a new road here, a fresh repainting there, and the most essential element — a massive billboard announcing who to thank.
Some say he is continuing Bello’s “legacy.” Others whisper that he is simply continuing Bello himself. It is difficult to tell where Bello ends and Ododo begins. They are both from Okene, both accountants, both devoted sons of continuity, and both allergic to noise — except the visual noise of political branding.
In fairness, Ododo has inherited a tough political geography — a state divided along ethnic and regional lines, where all legacy projects must first pass the ethnicity test. Yet, he seems determined to prove that the Central District can govern with grace, efficiency, and, of course, abundant signage.
A Governance of Billboards and Continuity
Under Ododo, governance has reached a new height of symbolism. Why spend billions on public enlightenment when a billboard can do the job? Why hold a press briefing when a signpost, placed strategically at every turn, can tell the whole story — “Courtesy of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.”
In this new dispensation, every action deserves a signpost. A repaired drainage? Signpost. A renovated classroom? Signpost. Even a pothole yet to be filled might soon get one — “This pothole is under the observation of His Excellency.”
To his credit, Ododo has maintained admirable loyalty to his predecessor. Some call it humility; cynics call it a remote-control arrangement. Whatever the case, the political marriage between Bello and Ododo remains one of Nigeria’s most enduring examples of “seamless succession.” Bello may have left office, but not quite the building.
The Man, The Myth, The Shadow
There’s something almost Shakespearean about the relationship between Bello and Ododo — the former godfather watching from the wings, the latter stepping onto the stage under borrowed light. Ododo speaks softly, governs cautiously, and never seems in a hurry to offend the gods of Okene.
But can a man truly govern if his every move is interpreted through another’s legacy? Can he plant new trees if the forest still bears another’s name?
One thing is certain: Ododo’s governance is cleaner, calmer, and more structured — though some would say, also safer, less daring, and less independent. His admirers describe him as disciplined, his critics say deferential. Either way, his image is being carved — one signpost at a time.
Far and Beyond Politicking — or Just Beyond Bello?
The slogan, “Far and Beyond Politicking,” sounds noble. But in practice, it sometimes feels like Beyond Questioning. In a state where politics is personal, Ododo’s soft-spoken approach has earned him peace — and perhaps, too much of it. The opposition yawns; the public watches; the signposts multiply.
Still, there is something quietly effective about his method. Projects get finished. Salaries are paid. Public offices seem a bit more orderly. Perhaps the Governor has discovered a truth others missed: in Nigeria, governance doesn’t need to be loud — only visible enough for a photo and a frame.
The Verdict
So, let it be written: Ahmed Usman Ododo, Signpost Governor of the Year (2025) — a leader who has redefined continuity, giving governance a bold new logo and a permanent place at every junction in Kogi.
Whether history will remember him as a man who emerged from Bello’s shadow or as one who painted over it with his own colours, only time will tell. But for now, as one drives through Kogi’s winding roads, past the forests and the hills, one truth remains unmissable: governance here is not just being done — it is being advertised.
Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo: The Signpost Governor of the Year?