Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, has declared that former Governor Yahaya Bello remains a father figure to him, stressing his complete loyalty and unwavering support.
The statement was made during a visit to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, where Governor Ododo paid a courtesy call on the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, along with other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
The governor, while addressing journalists after the meeting, described Bello not only as his predecessor but also as the person who played a significant role in his journey to political leadership. According to him, his rise in politics would not have been possible without the support and influence of the former governor.
“My boss, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is like a father to me. I was not born with a silver spoon,” Ododo stated. “Where he picked me from and how God used him to elevate me remain fresh in my memory. I will never forget where I came from.”
The governor also spoke passionately about loyalty, using a metaphor to drive his point home. “Any river that forgets its source will soon dry up,” he said. “I will not and cannot betray him. When you see a child angry with his father, such a child is no longer truly one. I’m not that kind of person.”
Ododo further appealed to his political supporters and close associates to act as peacemakers if any misunderstanding ever arises between him and Bello.
“If he gets angry with me as a father, please, if you observe or you get a feel that my boss is angry with me, just go and plead with him on my behalf. But as far as I’m concerned, he’s a leader. I can never, and will never betray him.”
