It was a sober Monday in Kogi State as news spread of the passing of Alhaji Ahmed Momoh Sani Ododo, father of the state’s governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. The 83-year-old patriarch, revered for his quiet strength and devout faith, breathed his last surrounded by his children and grandchildren—leaving behind memories of wisdom and a legacy steeped in humility.
The Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), a coalition of leaders across the southern states, quickly moved to console one of their own. In a heartfelt statement signed by the Forum’s chairman and Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governors expressed not only their grief but also their solidarity with Governor Ododo in this deeply personal moment.
The Forum described the elder Ododo as a man who lived a life worthy of remembrance—rooted in faith, guided by service, and rich with the lessons he imparted to his children. “The loss of a devoted father who gave so much to train his children in the ways of Allah, and who was always available to offer guidance and counsel, is a void that cannot be easily filled,” the statement read, striking a chord that resonated beyond Kogi State.
The governors also drew parallels between this fresh loss and another recent bereavement within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Only days ago, the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, buried his mother, Lady Lydia Yilwatda. For the Forum, these successive tragedies are poignant reminders of the fleeting nature of life and the shared humanity that binds leaders and citizens alike.
To Governor Ododo, the message was clear: lean on the strength of legacy. The Forum urged him to take solace in the fact that his late father’s influence lives on, embodied in the governor himself and in the values instilled across generations of the Ododo family.
More than a political communiqué, the condolence was an embrace—one that underscored the brotherhood among Nigeria’s governors, transcending geography and politics when grief knocks on the door.
In many ways, the life of Alhaji Ahmed Momoh Sani Ododo reads like a quiet but powerful chapter of resilience. Known for his humility and deep faith, he was not a man of titles or headlines, but of character. His children often described him as both a guide and a shield—always ready with words of counsel and prayer.
Now, with his passing, his son, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, faces the profound dual role of mourner and leader. For Kogi people, this moment is both personal and communal. Their governor, who must carry the burden of governance, now also carries the burden of grief.
The Southern Governors’ Forum pledged to stand by him through it all. Their words were not just formal condolences but an affirmation that leadership, at its best, is rooted in empathy.
“Yet, as Almighty Allah (SWT) knows best, we submit to His will and stand in firm solidarity with His Excellency, his family, and the Government and people of Kogi State in this moment of grief,” the statement concluded.
As prayers rise for the repose of Alhaji Ododo’s soul, so too does the reminder that the truest measure of a life well-lived is not in accolades but in the legacy of faith, service, and humility it leaves behind. For the Ododo family, that legacy is imperishable.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus.