Fubara Should Learn from Ododo’s Birthday Tribute to His Godsent, Yahaya Bello.

Yesterday, while reading Governor Usman Ododo’s tribute to his boss and godfather Yahaya Bello on his 50th birthday, I paused. And then I read it again.

It wasn’t just a birthday message. It was a story of loyalty, humility, gratitude, and destiny.

𝗢𝗱𝗼𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲:

🟡 “𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲. 𝗜 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆.”

🟡 “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.”

🟡 “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲.”

🟡 “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.”

This wasn’t politics. This was someone pouring out genuine appreciation to the man who lifted him from the shadows and gave him a future.

And then my mind drifted… to Fubara.

The same Fubara who once proudly called his former boss “My Oga”, vowed loyalty, praised him publicly, and swore never to betray him. Yet, barely three months into office, he flipped. Surrounded himself with those who once fought his nomination. And now? He’s in open battle with the same man who made him.

You see, in Nigerian politics, loyalty is rare. Real gratitude is even rarer.

People talk down on godfatherism but let’s be honest. Many people don’t get to power on their own. Someone often stands in the gap, puts in the work, opens doors, and risks everything for them. The least expected in return is respect and loyalty.

But when people get to power and suddenly forget who held their hands during their lowest, it tells you something deeper about their heart.

Governor Ododo could have moved on and done the typical thing. Pretend like he made it on his own. But no. He used his platform to honour his roots, his helper, his godfather. He said:

🟡 “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.”

Now, compare that to someone who gets to power, forgets his promise, and begins to dine with his former enemies even against the one who helped him.

Let’s not twist this. Anyone who says “What has he done for me that others haven’t done for someone else?” has the spirit of ingratitude. And no matter how high such people rise, they will always struggle with peace.

Fubara should take a page from Ododo’s book. Gratitude doesn’t make you weak. It shows you were raised well. And betrayal? That’s the easiest way to lose your honour, even if you still have power.

OLAYINKA SAMUEL