Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has faced public backlash following comments in which he referred to former Niger Delta militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo), as his “mentor, leader, and benefactor.”
Governor Ododo made the remarks on Monday in Lokoja while receiving 25 campaign vehicles donated by Tompolo’s organization, the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, to mobilize support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a viral video from the event, Ododo acknowledged the financial and political backing he received during his 2023 governorship election campaign.
“My mentor, my leader, benefactor, the founder and grand patron of PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Special High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo AKA Tompolo… gave me very massive support for us to be here today,” Ododo stated.
The public declaration triggered swift reactions across social media platforms, with commentators and political analysts questioning the choice of words by a sitting governor and the implications for his administration’s political hierarchy.
Political commentators raised concerns over public perception and governance standards, while others questioned how the acknowledgment aligns with the influence of his predecessor and predecessor-in-office, former Governor Yahaya Bello.
In a related reaction, political activist and blogger Usman Okai Austin urged the governor to repurpose the donated campaign vehicles into public commercial transport to ease high commuting costs across the state.
“Given the high cost of transportation—a national issue affecting everyone in Nigeria—I call on Governor Ododo to convert these vehicles for commercial use and assign them to local drivers to provide affordable transport options for the people,” Okai stated.
Neither the Kogi State Government nor the governor’s spokesperson has issued an official statement responding to the public reaction as of the time of filing this report.
