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There is uncertainty regarding claims that Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State was “bounced” from the Senate during the confirmation of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu, at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Governor Ododo attended the National Assembly for the confirmation hearing to show support for Shaibu, who is from Kogi State.
Reports indicate that Ododo was denied access to the Senate during the confirmation hearing, marking the second time he has faced such a situation.
Sources within the National Assembly stated that no other state governor attended in solidarity with the service chiefs from their states, which led to Ododo being denied entry.
According to DAILY POST, this was not the first time the governor was barred from the Senate; he was previously prevented from entering during the confirmation of the substantive Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who is also from Kogi State.
A source who spoke with DAILY POST remarked: “Governor Usman Ododo was once again turned away from the Senate. He arrived to support the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff from Kogi State.
“This is the second instance in which they have escorted the governor out of the Senate. He consistently attends these non-political events.
“He was denied access during the confirmation hearing for the INEC Chairman, and the Senate stated he was not supposed to be there. It has become quite embarrassing, which is why they asked him to leave the confirmation hearing.
“Once more, since the Chief of Army Staff is from Kogi State, he came again, and they had to ask him to leave because it is a promotion by rank and not a political appointment.
“They mentioned that the Chief of Defence Staff is from Ekiti, the Chief of Naval Staff is from Kano, and none of their governors attended, only Kogi. I’m not sure who is advising him.”
The source also noted that no invitation was extended to Ododo for attending the event.
However, in a swift response, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, dismissed the reports of Ododo being “bounced” as “baseless,” questioning why anyone would believe that a state’s chief executive could be escorted out of the Senate.
In a conversation with DAILY POST, Fanwo stated that Ododo “attended the screening of the INEC Chairman to express his support, as the INEC Chairman is also from Kogi State.”
He added, “Today, I was with him as he provided support for the new Chief of Army Staff, who was to be screened by the Senate. He met with several senators from the state and other stakeholders.”
The commissioner explained that the governor left the National Assembly to submit the report of the Ekiti All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Primary, as he is the chairman of the committee that organized the primary.
“Therefore, no one walked him out of the National Assembly.
“Consider this: on what grounds would anyone escort him out? Did he violate any rules? We were present for over an hour, and the new Chief of Army Staff arrived before we departed.
“The National Assembly is a reputable institution with established communication channels. Have you verified with them whether anything of the sort occurred?”
He emphasized that “some disgruntled politicians” are attempting to “spread falsehoods and unfounded claims.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Governor Ododo denied access to the Senate?
Governor Ododo was reportedly denied access to the Senate as no other state governors attended in solidarity with the service chiefs, leading to his exclusion.
What was Governor Ododo's purpose for attending the confirmation hearing?
Governor Ododo attended the confirmation hearing to support Major-General Waheedi Shaibu, the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, who is from Kogi State.
How did the Kogi government respond to the claims about Governor Ododo?
The Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, labeled the claims as “baseless” and asserted that no one would walk a state governor out of the Senate without valid grounds.
