Political Network: How Ododo/Oyibo leadership shuns ostracism in Kogi politics
By Isah Jibrin Egbolo
Good leadership inspires, empowers, and guides people toward a shared vision of prosperity. It blends emotional intelligence with strategic action, integrity with clear communication, and accountability with empathy. A good leader takes ownership of both successes and failures while managing his emotions and understanding those of his team.
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and his deputy, Joel Salifu Oyibo, embody these values. Their leadership prioritizes teamwork, critical thinking, agility, and clear communication backed by active listening. They understand that politics is a game of numbers, and that ostracism — the deliberate exclusion of party members from political activities — directly undermines mobilization and participation.
Ostracism leaves individuals rejected and politically isolated. Ododo and Oyibo recognize this as a danger to both party growth and Kogi politics at large. As political psychology shows, social exclusion breeds division, which opposition parties are quick to exploit. Mass mobilization is impossible if we tolerate shunning within our ranks.
For this reason, members have been urged to reject retrogressive campaigns and instead build an inclusive political network. Such a network must reflect the heterogeneity of Kogi’s population and leverage modern platforms that reach a global audience. In mobilization, needless social stratification should be shunned. As the saying goes, dribbling does not win matches — goals do.
The Ododo/Oyibo administration has thrown up leaders who model this approach. Hon. Eunice Achimugu, for instance, champions capacity over noise, focusing on results that advance the party. Others like Prof. Stephen Ocheni, Rt. Hon. Ismaila Hussaini Inah, Hon. Christiana Ogwu, Hon. Cosmos Attabo, and Emma Show Love demonstrate approachable leadership marked by simplicity and universal goodwill.
Self-aggrandizement remains the worst form of egotism. Though non-violent, it breeds disunity. By contrast, the current leadership’s emphasis on collective effort strengthens party cohesion.
Meanwhile, opposition parties in Kogi remain in disarray. Riddled with internal strife, parties like the ADC and NDC are politically comatose. Progressive leaders must not revive them through our own divisions.
The path forward is clear: shun ostracism, embrace unity, and consolidate an inclusive political network. That is how Kogi builds on the good governance of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and Deputy Governor Comrade Joel Salifu Oyibo.
Isah Jibrin Egbolo, a grassroots mobiliser, writes from Kogi
