Multiple social media posts have claimed that the newly-inaugurated governor of Kogi state, Ahmed Usman Ododo, recently approved the creation of the “Office of Immediate Past Governor”.
“Kogi State Governor approves the establishment of the “Office of Immediate Past Governor” to be domiciled in the Government House”, Goldmynetv posted on its verified Instagram page on Monday, January 29, 2024.
Other online blogs and social media users have also shared the claim on different platforms as can be seen here, here, here, and here.
This is coming days after Ododo was officially sworn in as Kogi governor after winning the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship election in the state, under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Claim: New Kogi governor, Usman Ododo, has approved the creation of office of immediate past governor
Verification
The CDD War Room checked to verify the viral claim and here is what we found.
We traced the viral claim to Austin Okai, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections.
“Breaking News: Kogi State Governor approves the establishment of the “Office of Immediate Past Governor” to be domiciled in the Government House.Kogi State, Congratulations,” Okai posted on his verified X handle on Monday, 29, 2024.
The Punch reported Okai’s allegation against the newly inaugurated Kogi governor.
Further checks show that the Kogi state government has debunked the claim, describing it as fake news and the “handiwork of psychotic mischief makers.”
This was made known via a press statement issued by Oladele John, the chief press secretary to the governor of the state, as reported here and here on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
Part of the statement read, “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.”
Verdict: NO EVIDENCE
Findings by the CDD War Room show that the Kogi state government has debunked the viral claim in a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the governor. The development was reported by multiple news media outlets.
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