In a highly publicized ceremony attended by Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo and other top officials in Iyara, Ijumu Local Government Area, Asiwaju Prince Olatunji Olusoji, Chairman/CEO of Grosvenor Global Services Limited, formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, what was intended as a grand entrance quickly devolved into a series of political missteps that have cast a shadow over his true intentions.
Prince Olusoji Olatunji is renowned for his extensive philanthropy, including scholarships, empowerment programs, and highly visible participation in major Okunland community events since his “return home.” While his benevolence initially overshadowed public inquiries into his political motives, his recent actions have forced those questions back into the spotlight.
The well-documented political and economic marginalization of the Okun people has fueled the persistent clamor for a Governor of Okun extraction. Yet, at the very moment of his high-profile defection, Prince Olatunji Olusoji chose to undermine this genuine agitation. He asserted that the quest for the governorship should not be “confrontational,” effectively suggesting the Okun people must remain docile and subservient. His belief that such obedience will “unlock the compassion” of those in power is viewed by many as a fundamental misreading—or deliberate betrayal—of the communal struggle.
Any lingering doubt about his true intentions was unequivocally settled by the events of the day. A seemingly organized, and likely sponsored, group held placards openly demanding the Deputy Governorship for the Prince. While political ambition is acceptable, its unveiling in such a crass and tactless manner demonstrated either profound political naivety or an arrogant assumption of his immediate importance.
The irony was amplified when the Prince dismissed key figures championing the Okun-for-Governor agitation as “diaspora politicians.” For a newcomer to the APC, a man whose philanthropy largely funded his “return home,” such an immediate and pejorative pronouncement against established agitators is widely perceived as a display of unwarranted arrogance.
Rumors suggesting that Prince Olusoji Olusoji has been promised high-ranking positions are gaining currency, painting his anti-agitation stance as a pragmatic play for personal gain. This suggests that his highly praised philanthropy was, in fact, an extended political campaign for a singular ambition.
Despite his positive impact on communities, Prince Olatunji cannot unilaterally claim the mantle of the Okun people’s mouthpiece. His inaugural address suggests a profound misunderstanding of his people’s enduring quest for emancipation.
The complexities of Kogi State politics, particularly concerning ethnic agitation, are far removed from the business world. To succeed, the Prince must pause, study the local political environment, and, more importantly, align his rhetoric with the legitimate aspirations of the Okun people—or risk being dismissed as a self-serving outlier.
– Ponle Adeniyi
ponleadeniyi457@gmail.com
