From Flower to Thorn: Gov. Ododo and the Okai’s Arrest
After Kogi State witnessed an historic era of error under the administration of Yahaya Bello, many had thought – including this essayist – that with the coming of a new governor, at least, it would be a breath of fresh air from the Hitlerite malignancy which we were repressed with by the White Lion. And so, we had Ododo, whom they called the ‘Flower.’ However, Ododo’s persona and attitude are surprisingly similar to how William Shakespeare portrays Macbeth through Lady Macbeth’s words in his eponymous tragic play ‘Macbeth,’ where Macbeth is likened to someone who ‘looks like the innocent flower, but is the serpent under it.’
To ‘look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it’ is the famous ill-conceived advice given to Macbeth by his wife, Lady Macbeth, in Act 1, Scene 5, while egging her husband on to commit the murder of King Duncan – the King of Scotland! She is simply saying: my husband, you should appear innocent on the surface (like a flower), but be a tricky and malevolently homicidal maniac underneath (like the serpent), and then carry out the dubious act of killing the king! However, and surprisingly so, Ododo characterises everything said by Lady Macbeth because in Ododo’s case, he’s called the ‘People’s Governor;’ but, at the same, he represses the same people. And so, I wonder if this Flower is truly the one that blooms, or it has become a prickly thorn on the throne.
On the 5th of February, 2025, a civic group known as the Nigerian Renaissance Group (NRG), raised an alarm over a misuse of funds. Mr. Okai was their convener; so, he alleged that ₦13.4 billion was diverted from the State’s coffer which is not the purpose for which it was released by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Speaking further at the press briefing, Mr. Okai urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and recover the allegedly misappropriated funds.
Yes, if you ask me, I would say that it is what all opposition parties do in a democracy. But by a tragic irony, on the 26th of the same February 2025, the DSS arrested Mr. Okai who raised the alarm, and up till this very moment, the EFCC haven’t said anything about the allegation levelled against the Kogi State Government. The arrest was done in the crudest manner, and even a goat shouldn’t be arrested that way. And incensed by the manner of the arrest, Mrs. Okai describes it as ‘abduction.’ Some see it as ‘kidnapping.’ But the action of the State Government justifies the diction because it’s sacrilegious to arrest a human that way. Although it seems the Kogi Government has neither respect for the sanctity of the Constitution nor value for the sanctity of human life.
It’s also painfully funny that the same Ododo who foiled all EFCC’s attempts to arrest Yahaya Bello over a pending N80.2 billion case is the same person arresting Mr. Okai over an allegation of ₦13.4 billion! Yahaya Bello was even officially declared wanted by the EFCC in April, but Ododo’s security details strongly resisted the EFCC operatives who came to arrest the ‘wanted criminal’ called Bello.
‘The Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, on Wednesday, foiled an attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] to arrest the immediate-past governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, at his 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja residence [over money laundering charges],’ The Punch Newspaper reported, 18th April 2024.
Similarly, according to the Premium Times, Bello and Ododo even went as far as engaging the operatives of the EFCC in a gun duel. ‘In a stunning turn of events, a fierce late-night gun battle erupted Wednesday between operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and security details of both former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and his successor, Usman Ododo,’ the Premium Times reported, 20th September 2024.
So, isn’t it shameful that the same Gov. Ododo is the one who arbitrarily incarcerated Okai for merely alleging and drawing the attention of appropriate authorities to the misuse of funds under his (Ododo’s) watch? Or what’s sauce for the goose is no longer sauce for the gander? Why should the same man, who obstructed the arrest of his political Godfather (Bello) who was even declared wanted by the EFCC, arrest another man for mere whistleblowing? Or what’s sauce for an Ododo or a Bello is not sauce for an Okai? That’s an interesting paradox!
In another of his literary opuses – an eponymous tragic play titled ‘Othello’ – William Shakespeare, through the main character named Othello, rhetorically asked: ‘Why, how now, ho? from whence ariseth this…barbarous brawl?’ And standing on the Shakespearean literary wing, I ask: Ododo, where is this audacity to unleash venomous attacks on critics coming from? First, the unwarranted incarceration of Okai is a blatant circumvention of democratic principles. And second, it is a clear infringement of his rights. This is no democracy! If this is what you call democracy, take it away from me!
With the Hitlerite malignancy which Ododo’s predecessor, Bello, repressed the whole state throughout his eight (8) years, what did he (Bello) achieve at the end of the day? Ododo can’t follow the same path now. He shouldn’t suppress Kogites with authoritarian abhorrence, just like the way Bello did, and then think that he is governing them. I developed a strong likeness for Ododo when I noticed he didn’t joke with workers’ salaries. But he’s now taking the wrong path. A responsible government doesn’t even have time for frivolities. Ododo should have a rethink!
But the most unfortunate part is that some chattering clowns from Kogi East, West and Central are united, rejoicing over a victim of systemic injustice. But one thing is sure, and it’s the fact that the unanimity of evil over injustice doesn’t confirm the legality of that injustice. It rather points to one thing: the systemic conspiracy or institutional plot against justice in the country called Nigeria!
A governor shouldn’t become a terror to his citizens. If Okai alleges, incarcerating him is not the best option. A responsible government should clear its name by releasing an official statement to disprove what has been alleged. Has the government officially said anything since then? Or better still, there are courts, the government should go through the due process, and since it’s Mr. Okai that alleged, the onus of proof is on him. So, give him a fair hearing and let’s see whether he can provide what Shakespeare called ‘ocular proof’ to support his claim. Then, let the court rightly decide his fate based on the ocular proof. Executive rascality shouldn’t be used to imprison and decide his fate!
And what aphorism could be more cautionary than the saying in Shakespeare’s Othello which goes thus: ‘Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Good signor [Gov. Ododo], you shall more command with years than with your weapons.’ By the import of this quote, Ododo is advised to prioritise wisdom over weapons. That is, he should desist from using brute force over his critics. Ododo is a youthful governor, and that comes with great vitality. However, youthful vigour is two-edged: it can become a burden or favour, depending on how it’s used. Ododo should ask Bello for a manual on post-governorship life. He should learn from history in order to avoid the revenge of history.
Sule Abubakar Lucky Mark,
Writer and Sociologist.
Email: suleabubakarmark1111@gmail.com
08/03/2025.