The Kogi State Government has refuted rumors circulating about the approval of the establishment of an “office of immediate past governor” by Governor Usman Ododo.
The speculation emerged shortly after Ododo’s inauguration as the new governor of the state.
Ododo assumed office on Saturday, succeeding his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
Following his inauguration, Ododo named 16 commissioner nominees for screening by the State House of Assembly and made several appointments to his administration.
However, on Monday, unfounded rumors began to spread, suggesting that the Kogi governor had sanctioned the creation of an “office of immediate past governor” to be situated within the government house.
In response to the rumors, the Kogi State Government issued a statement on Tuesday, denouncing the reports as the work of mischief-makers.
The statement read, “The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to a mischievous report that the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has approved the establishment of the ‘Office of the Immediate Past Governor’ to be domiciled in the Government House.
“The fake news should be disregarded as the handiwork of psychotic mischief makers, who have been thrown into confusion by the unprecedented achievements of our former Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, and the realisation that the good people of Kogi State sincerely appreciate this.
“The laughable report was concocted to create disaffection and mislead the public but the authors failed woefully to confuse intelligent Nigerians.
“We thank the media for exercising restraint and detecting, on their own, that the report was fake. We, however, urge the general public to always fact-check before spreading fake news.”