Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has openly admitted that cabals exist within his administration, describing them as a driving force behind the achievements recorded by his government so far.
The governor made the disclosure on Sunday while addressing a public gathering in his hometown, where he spoke candidly in a mix of humour and seriousness.
“I want to formally appreciate the leader of my own cabal. I was a member of a cabal before, but our own cabal could not perform the way this present cabal is working,” Ododo said.
He explained that what truly matters is effectiveness and results, regardless of the label attached to a group.
“If any cabal can work like this, I think we should even have multiple cabals, as many as we can,” he added.
Ododo said he was unapologetic about the structure he referred to as his cabal, stressing that its impact was evident in the project being commissioned at the event.
“I am proud to tell you that I have a cabal. One of the achievements of having a cabal is what we are about to commission here today,” he stated.
The governor further revealed that the leader of the group was endorsed by his predecessor, former Governor Yahaya Bello.
“The leader of my own cabal, approved by His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is Hajiya Dr Habibat Tijjani Aliyu, FCMA,” Ododo disclosed.
He listed members of the cabal as including top government officials such as the Accountant-General, Auditor-General, party chairman, Special Adviser on Protocol, and the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs.
The remarks have since generated widespread reactions, with many viewing them as an unusually frank insight into the internal power structure within a sitting government.
