The Muhammadu Buhari Square Lokoja, was a carnival-like atmosphere on o Saturday as Alhaji Usman Ododo was sworn-in as Governor taking over from Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi.
Ododo and Joel Salifu were sworn in as Kogi Governor and Deputy Governor by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi, right in front of a mammoth crowd mobilised and ferried to the state capital.
Ododo and Salifu were elected on the platform of APC on Nov. 11, 2023 during the Kogi Off-Cycle governorship election.
Those at Ododo’s swearing-in included Vice President, Kashim Shettima; the Kwara Governor and Chairman of Governor’s Forum, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman and deputy governor of Benue State.
Ododo was declared winner after scoring 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 259,052 votes.
Bello completed his two-terms in office from Jan. 27, 2016 to Jan. 27, 2024.
Eagle online newspaper reports Ododo has announced the appointment of Dr. Folashade Ayoade as the Secretary to the State Government.
Ayoade was the SSG in the last eight years of the immediate past Governor, Yayaha Bello.
She is from the Kogi West Senatorial district.
The governor also announced the appointment of Ali Bello as the Chief of Staff.
An investigation by our correspondent showed that Bello is a nephew of the former governor, and he hails from the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Until his appointment, Bello was with Yakubu Adabenege who is now the Auditor-General of Local Government.
Adabenege was appointed by the former governor two weeks ago.
Also, Suleman Ibrahim was announced as the Director-General, Protocol.
Oladele Nihi was announced as the Chief Press Secretary.
The governor also announced the appointment of some Commissioner-designates majority of whom were former commissioners under the former governor.
They are the former Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo; former Finance Commissioner, Idris Ashiru; former Commissioner for Solid Minerals; Bashir Gegu; former Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones; and the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Salami Deedat.
