In the high-stakes theater of Kogi State politics, the line between philanthropy and Trojan-horse diplomacy is often blurred. For Prince Olusoji Olatunji, a man whose recent entrance into the Kogi social scene was marked by expansive generosity, the honeymoon period appears to be over.
What was once celebrated as a breath of fresh air for the Okun people is now being viewed through a lens of skepticism. As the agitation for an Okun-led governorship intensifies, Olusoji’s recent public stances have sparked a firestorm of criticism, leaving many to wonder: Is the Prince a benefactor, or merely a sophisticated architect of Okunland’s continued political subordination?
When Prince Olusoji was conferred with an honorary doctorate at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, the occasion was meant to be a crowning achievement. Instead, it became a platform for displaying political naivety.
His rhetoric, which is in alignment with the current power structures in Lokoja, has touched a raw nerve. In a state where economic hardship often makes people vulnerable to the “poultry farmer’s kindness”—where chickens are fed copiously only to be prepared for the market—the Prince’s benevolence is now being labeled as transactional.
“Our people have survived long before this arrival,” one community leader noted. “To rub benevolence in the faces of the people while asking them to surrender their political destiny is not leadership; it is a transaction.”
At the heart of the controversy is the rumored “2031 Promise”—a political arrangement that purportedly offers Okunland a Deputy Governorship now in exchange for a guaranteed path to the Lugard House in eight years.
To the seasoned Kogi politician, this is dangerous math. In the volatile landscape of Kogi politics, the equation is rarely linear. As the saying goes in Lokoja, 10 + 5 can often equal zero.
Previous administrations have made similar overtures, only for the goalposts to be moved at the eleventh hour.
There is a growing resentment against a system that turns Okun leaders into “zombies” whose primary allegiance is to a central power rather than their own constituents.
A burning question remains—who appointed Prince Olusoji as the Chief Negotiator for the Okun people
Former Governor Yahaya Bello did not ascend to power by waiting for a “turn” or relying on the benevolence of a departing hegemon; he confronted the status quo.
The Okun quest for the governorship is not a plea for a favor; it is a movement for political emancipation and freedom from economic strangulation. By appearing to negotiate away this fervor for a distant, uncertain future, Olusoji has moved from being a perceived solution to a visible part of the problem.
If a leader’s own people—the very ones he has “helped”—are expressing aversion to his alignment, it is a signal that cannot be ignored. A wise man reflects when his community recoils.
The message from the Okun hinterlands is clear: The Kogi State Governorship is not for sale. No amount of philanthropy can compensate for the loss of political self-determination.
The coming months will determine if Prince Olusoji will recalibrate his stance and join the genuine struggle of his people, or if he will remain a “delirious” passenger on a ship heading toward a political iceberg.
– Ponle Adeniyi
ponleadeniyi457@gmail.com
