By Fawaz Adebisi
The Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has dismissed the rumors that he has approved the creation of an “Office of Immediate Past Governor” for his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
In a press release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Oladele John Nihi, the Governor described the idea of such an office as “absurd” and “contradictory to the essence of progress and forward-thinking leadership.”
According to the release, Yahaya Bello, who served as the Governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2023, had performed excellently well and deserved promotion, not repetition.
He also praised Bello’s track record in development, security, and youth empowerment, stressing that he was clearly aiming for higher national achievements.
The statement reads in part, “The idea of establishing an “Office of Immediate Past Governor” within the Government House is absurd. His Excellency Yahaya Bello, as the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, is clearly aiming for higher national achievements, not clinging to a redundant position. Creating such an office contradicts the essence of progress and forward-thinking leadership.
“Yahaya Bello’s track record in Kogi State speaks volumes about his commitment to development, making the notion of him seeking a symbolic past role implausible. The focus should be on encouraging leaders to contribute to the nation’s growth, not on concocting unnecessary positions that hinder their potential contributions on a broader scale.”
He therefore accused some sections of the media of spreading false information to sow discord and mislead the public, and urged the people to exercise discernment and not fall prey to such obvious lies.
Assuring the people of Kogi State, he said that his administration would continue to build on the legacy of Yahaya Bello and deliver good governance and dividends of democracy to them.
