By: Hon. Moses Okezie-Okafor

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has penned an unusually emotional and deeply sincere birthday tribute to his predecessor, former Governor Yahaya Bello, CON, describing him as his leader, mentor, pathfinder and destiny fulfiller in a message that has drawn widespread commendation across the country.

The message, released on Wednesday, June 18th, to mark the former governor’s birthday, offered another beautiful glimpse into the strong bond between the two leaders, underscoring the mutual respect that has continued to define their relationship since the transition of power in Kogi State.

Political observers have noted that the warmth displayed by both men stands in sharp contrast to the often frosty and adversarial relationships that frequently emerge between sitting governors and their predecessors in Nigeria, where political succession is commonly followed by accusations of betrayal, mutual recriminations and bitter political rivalry.

In his message, Governor Ododo paid glowing tribute to Bello’s leadership, courage and vision, crediting him with laying the foundations for the progress being witnessed in the state today.

The Governor wrote:

“Your Excellency, my Leader, Mentor and Pathfinder,

The true measure of a leader is not in the battles he avoids, but in the burdens he willingly bears so that others may walk a path he cleared.

As I reflect on your life and leadership on the occasion of your birthday, this profound truth comes readily to mind. Your journey has been defined by courage, sacrifice and a great commitment to a cause greater than yourself.

You took the bullets for the difficult decisions that laid the foundation for a prosperous Kogi State. You bore the criticisms, confronted the opposition and endured the pressures that come with charting a new course. While many saw risks, you saw possibilities. While others sought convenience, you chose conviction.

You were used, and are still being used, by God to fulfill the destinies of many people, including mine. No one saw it coming. No one would have made such a choice. No one would have looked in my direction and entrusted me with such responsibility except a visionary leader like you, who possesses the rare gift of seeing tomorrow in the people of today.

Your birthday means a lot to us because it marks the day a great leader, fearless reformer, destiny fulfiller and builder of men was born. Through your leadership, countless lives have been transformed, hopes have been restored, and opportunities have been created for people who otherwise may never have had the chance.

Beyond the offices you have occupied and the accomplishments that history will record, your greatest legacy remains the lives you have touched and the futures you have shaped. Generations yet unborn will continue to reap from the seeds you planted with courage, vision and selfless service.

As you celebrate another year today, I pray that Almighty Allah continues to strengthen you, preserve you in good health, enrich you with wisdom and grant you many more years of fulfillment and impact. May your days be long, your joy be full and your legacy continue to flourish.

Happy Birthday, Your Excellency Sir.

With profound respect and gratitude,

HE Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA
The Chief Servant of Kogi State

18th June, 2026.”

The former governor responded in equally warm terms, expressing gratitude for the tribute and describing Governor Ododo as his ‘success story now and forever’. Bello thanked Almighty Allah for giving Ododo to him, Kogi State and humanity ‘at this critical moment in our history’, commended his inclusive leadership and urged him to keep flying the state’s flag ever higher.

The exchange has been widely interpreted as further evidence of the unusual political maturity that has characterised the relationship between the two men since the transition of power in Kogi State. Rather than the familiar cycle of estrangement and political warfare that often follows succession in Nigeria, both leaders have consistently projected unity, continuity and a shared commitment to the state’s development.

For many observers, the birthday exchange was more than a private expression of goodwill. It was a public affirmation of mutual loyalty, gratitude and statesmanship – values too often absent from contemporary political partnerships.

This writer believes such public demonstrations of mutual respect are increasingly needed in a political climate often marked by needless infighting. They remind us that political transitions need not breed bitterness and division, and that governance is strengthened when successors acknowledge the foundations laid by their predecessors and predecessors, in turn, accord due respect to those entrusted with continuing the work.

As felicitations continue to pour in for former Governor Yahaya Bello on his birthday, the messages exchanged between the two leaders are, no doubt, the clearest illustrations of political continuity, mutual respect and mature leadership to be found anywhere in Nigeria’s democracy today.

Moses Okezie-Okafor is a lawyer, governance strategist and public policy commentator who works closely with both leaders. He serves as Director-General of Research and Development, Kogi State, and writes regularly on leadership, democratic institutions, public sector reform and national development.

Trial in the ongoing prosecution of Yahaya Bello, the erstwhile Governor of Kogi State resumed today in Abuja. Parties appeared before Hon. Justice Josephine Anenih to continue proceedings in the High tension legal battle.

Shehu Bala ‘Bello’, testifying for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today underwent extensive cross-examination at the hands of defence counsel in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The witness, who was subsequently discharged after what a journalist observing proceedings described as ‘a grilling’, is now the seventeenth prosecution witness (PW17) called by the EFCC since the commencement of the trial.

During a lengthy and detailed cross-examination, defence counsel subjected the witness to questions bordering on his relationship with Ali Bello whom he testified at the last hearing yesterday to have had dealings with, including the acquisition of various properties, the source of funds utilised in those transactions, and the ownership structure of the assets that have featured prominently in the prosecution’s case.

Despite the extensive questioning, the witness failed to directly link former Governor Yahaya Bello to the ownership, purchase, financing or control of the disputed properties and funds under scrutiny before the court. He also clarified that ‘Bello’ in his name is purely concidently, and that he is not related to the former Governor.

Under questioning, PW17 exonerated Bello from allegation of having had business dealings with him. He maintained that his dealings related principally to his own business and property transactions and he did not have direct business with the former governor on any of the properties and other assets in issue.

The development is being viewed by courtroom observers as another difficult outing for the prosecution, which has now called seventeen witnesses without allegedly producing direct evidence tying the former governor to the properties and financial transactions at the centre of the charges.

Proceedings are currently ongoing. More details later…

☆☆☆Worries Over Repentant Boko Haram activities.
☆☆☆BOSG Orders Immediate Action as Traditional Ruler seeks help.

By: Our Special Correspondent.

Mandaragrau, a quiet town of about 3000 people: just 20 minutes drive from Biu, the headquaters of Biu Local Govetnment Area, in Southern part of Borno State, has come under armed attack for the upteenth time.
Coming on the heels of assurances that no community will again fall to the guns of insurgents in Borno state, the town has been completely sacked.
National Trail investigations reveal that, the attack was the fifth, with attendant casualties on the part of both the Military, stationed in the town and the community.
Our correspondent learnt that, both the District Head, Lawan Mohammed and the ward heads in the area have been forced to relocate to Biu, the Local Government headquaters, while thousands seek refuge in adjourning communities.
The District Head in a report made to the Local Government Chairman, Sule Ali Yimi, and made available to our correspondent, indicates that, other members of the community have all fled the town to Biu, Mirnga, liya and other commu ities.
The Military command post has been equally sacked, with soldiers now operating from Maina Hari, in the neighbourhood of Biu.
Chairman of Biu Local Government Area, Sule Ali Yimi confirmed to our correspondent that, the town has also been reduced to ashes, as the insurgents burnt town every available building in the town.
The Chairman also told our correspondent that, with the successful infiltration and sack of Mandaragrau, Biu, the Local Government headquaters is not safe, as it may be the next target.
“As it is, we are not safe. Mandaragrau is one of the most fortified towns after Biu, and we fear that Biu could be their next target”, Yimi said.
This is even as the Deputy Governor of Borno state, Umar Usman Kadafur has ordered the State Emergency Management Agency, SENA. to quickly make assesment and report the situation for immediate government action.
Kadafur told NationalTrail Editor-in-Chief, that, the state government will implement immediate interim meadures before a comprehenssive plan for reclaimng the area, before resettling citizens is worked out.
He said he has been in contsct with the Molitary hierachy in evaluating efforts, prom8sing a strong collaboration for the immediate rescue of Mandaragrau.
The deputy gover or further assured that, the Military has put in plsce multiple measures to ensure the crisis does not spillover into Biu.
Mesnehile, the chairman of Biu. Sule Ali Yimi, has further alerted on the activities of repentant Boko Haram elements, deployed to Mandaragrau, alleging that, accusing fingers point in their direction for compromising the security of Mandaragrau.
Our correspondent reports that, repentant Boko Haram elements have been wrecking havoc in Mandaragrau and are extending their activities into Biu.
While coroborating NationalTrail findings, the council boss said, he is aware that, the repentant elements have been harrasing citizens, demanding for monetary settlement, at gun points.
Yimi said before the community was dispersed, repentant Boko Haram elements have been collecting royalties from villagers.
According to him, with the fall of Mandaragrau, security reports indicate that Biu may be tbeir next target.
Findings reveal that, the repentant Boko Haram have also relocated to the bus terminus in Biu, where they continually harass citizens.
While praising the efforts of the Military in trying to reclaim Mandaragrau, Yimi lamented that soldiers were ill equipped, and how the attackers peneterated the cordon, put around the Military camp in Mandaragrau, remains a mirage.
“Even the military have their suspicion, that, they might have been working with an insider, and citizen allege that, the insider could possibly be a repentant Boko Haram”, he noted.
Our correspondent traced several members of the Mandaragrau community to Biu, where they are squatting with relatives.
One of them, Haruna Saidu told NationalTrail, that, he was inside the mosque for an all night recitation when he heard gunshots, followed by explossions in the direction of the Military camp.
On getting outside, he noticed that the whole community had been thrown into confussion, with people fleeing in no particular direction.
He asked for a call to be put out to the District Head, Lawan Mohammed, who was out of town, intimating him of the development.
Haruna said, by the morning of June 11th, the entire town had been vacated, except for for some aged persons, who could not move out in the night. “They have also been evacuated, by noon of that day”, he added.
National Trail also reports that, for five days after the attack, the insurgents returned to Mandaragrau each night, setting the remaing few house on fire and vandalizing property.
Soldiers who also fled the town only go in the morning and return to their new base in Maina Hari, by 5:00pm, everyday.