Confusion trailed reports on Wednesday that Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State was allegedly prevented from accessing the Senate chamber during the confirmation of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu.
Governor Ododo was said to have visited the National Assembly to show solidarity with Shaibu, who hails from Kogi State. However, reports claimed he was turned back by officials who insisted that no other state governor attended the screening of service chiefs from their states.
According to sources quoted by DAILY POST, the incident marks the second time the Kogi governor would be denied access to the Senate. A similar scenario reportedly occurred during the confirmation of the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan — also from Kogi State.
One source said, “Governor Usman Ododo was again bounced from the Senate. He came to support the new Chief of Army Staff from Kogi State, but they asked him to leave, saying it’s not a political event. They also reminded him that the Chiefs of Defence, Naval, and Air Staff from other states didn’t have their governors present.”
The source further alleged that the governor had not been formally invited to attend the event.
Kogi Govt Reacts: “Baseless Lies”
However, the Kogi State Government has denied the reports, describing them as “baseless” and the handiwork of political detractors.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, dismissed the claims, insisting that Governor Ododo was never walked out of the National Assembly.
“Why would anyone believe that a sitting governor could be walked out of the Senate?” Fanwo queried.
He explained that the governor attended the screening to show solidarity with the new Chief of Army Staff and also met with some senators and stakeholders before leaving to submit the report of the Ekiti APC Governorship Primary Committee, which he chaired.
“No one walked him out. We were there for over an hour, and the Chief of Army Staff even arrived before we left. The National Assembly is a respected institution with proper communication channels. These are baseless lies by disgruntled politicians,” he said.
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