KOGI State Governor, Usman Ododo, has openly acknowledged the existence of what he described as a “working cabal” within his administration, saying the group was approved by his predecessor and political godfather, Yahaya Bello.
News Point Nigeria reports that Ododo made the disclosure while addressing an audience at a recent project inauguration ceremony in the state.
The governor recalled that he was once part of a similar inner circle during Bello’s administration, but said the group at the time failed to deliver meaningful results.
“I was a member of a cabal, but our own cabal could not perform the way these present cabals are working,” he said.
According to him, effective governance depends on how efficiently such groups function within an administration.
“If every cabal can work like this, I think we should better have multiple cabals, as many as we can,” the governor added.
Ododo said he was proud of the cabal operating in his government, attributing some of the administration’s achievements to its effectiveness.
“And 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,” he said.
He identified the leader of the group as the Kogi State Accountant-General, Habibat Tijani Aliyu, noting that her appointment was approved by Bello.
“The leader of my cabal, approved by His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Hajia Dr Habibat Tijani Aliyu, the accountant-general of our dear state,” the governor said.
Ododo further listed other members of the group to include the state’s auditor-general, the party chairman, the senior special assistant on protocol, and the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
“The auditor-general is a member of this cabal, the party chairman is a member of this cabal, SA protocol is a member of this cabal, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs is a critical member of this cabal,” he said.
Comparing the performance of the current cabal with that of the previous administration, the governor said the former had significantly outperformed the latter.
“How I wish my own cabal then could perform even one percent of this one,” he said.
He also dismissed criticisms from those who have accused him of running a cabal, insisting that his inner circle is results-oriented.
“So those of you that are calling me, calling my wife, calling my mother, calling Yahaya Bello, that Ododo has a cabal — my cabal is a working cabal,” the governor added.