Opinion: Who is Already Scared of Prince Olusoji in Kogi West? »

By Abdul Mohammed Lawal.

In politics, silence can attract attention, but growth often attracts fear. Since Prince Olatunji Olusoji recently joined the APC, talk about him in Kogi West has taken a different turn. What was once goodwill built over time is now being looked at with suspicion and worry. But good can never be taken away from those who are good.

Is this normal political interest, or an early sign of a witch-hunt driven by fear rather than fact?

Kogi West has long been a place of political ambition and rivalry. Over the years, the struggle for representation has been slowed by internal divisions and poor planning. The fight has always been lost from within, and struggles for the superiority of personal interests over collective ones have been prominent. When someone rises with goodwill, it is often met with curiosity, doubt, or unease from those who feel threatened. How long will this continue?

Prince Olusoji, a young Ayere-born multimillionaire, has earned respect for his support for community development and his commitment to collective progress. But this has also attracted attention from quarters unaccustomed to seeing influence outside the usual networks. The question now is not about ambition alone, but about how people and political actors react when someone new gains respect and support. Is it honest scrutiny, or fear dressed as concern?

Recently, a sponsored commentary from a certain Pastor began to question Prince Olusoji’s intentions and suggested he might be following a familiar political path. He even labelled Olusoji as a naïve newcomer to politics who does not know what he wants, and this was a wrong claim. How I wish he knew that the same man he spoke about in that manner is a thoroughbred and mentee of one of the greatest political minds in Nigeria, King James Ibori. How I wish he knew that the same man has been one of the most important people in the office of the Delta State Governor for eight years.

While it has gained attention, it tells the story of the entire region, where motives are assumed before facts are known. The issue is not any single writer, but how people respond when new leaders rise. When suspicion is louder than evidence, it can create unnecessary divisions and misdirected narratives. And that has been the Okun story.

Prince Olusoji’s rising profile is not about him personally, but a mirror of the challenges of Okun unity and strategy. The real question is not “Who is he?” but “Why do some feel threatened when someone shines?”

For decades, the quest for the governorship has been slowed not by outsiders. The struggle is long-standing, and the real challenge is unity, not ambition. Whenever someone gains influence or goodwill, it often shows cracks in solidarity. Instead of celebrating progress, some allow suspicion and rivalry to take centre stage. The result is missed opportunities, as the community’s strength is weakened by internal distractions. But what stops everyone from working together to see the region rise above every perceived bound?

It is also important to note that Prince Olusoji has not declared any personal political ambition, and that does not appear to be an option right now. He has made it clear that his focus is on supporting the collective dream of an Okun person becoming governor, rather than advancing his own interests. He has always emphasised unity and strategy over self-promotion, and has told the story that the agitation for Okun leadership is a shared struggle, not a personal race.

Even in conversations with both the former and incumbent governors of Kogi State, he does not hesitate to tell them that he is focused on the prosperity of Okunland, and not directly seeking office at the moment. The target is to support Governor Ododo’s administration to finish strong. With this in mind, who is really unsettled by Olusoji’s growing goodwill in Kogi West? Is it normal political attention, or a fear-driven witch-hunt?

Let’s say it is natural for established actors to feel uneasy when someone new gains respect and influence. But when suspicion outweighs support, it can distract from the shared goals everyone claims to support.

Kogi West must find a balance, encourage political discussion while avoiding stories that unfairly target individuals and create division. The rise of goodwill should be a chance to reflect, unite, and plan together; not a reason for suspicion. Prince Olusoji’s emergence gives the Okun people a chance to ask how they can act together, speak with one voice, and prepare for the future.

The answer is not in distrusting those who rise, but in building unity and a shared vision that fear or envy cannot break.

If past lessons are learned, Kogi West can turn rising influence into real progress. But if suspicion and rivalry continue, history will repeat itself; this time at the cost of those who let fear outweigh foresight.

The question remains: in the face of rising goodwill, will Kogi West choose politics, or a witch-hunt?