The Kogi State Government has dismissed a report published by Daily Post alleging that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo was “bounced” from the National Assembly, describing the claim as false, illogical, and politically motivated.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo, on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The statement reads partly: “When falsehood strikes, it leaves in its wake a carpet of disrespect and ignominy. When falsehood is procured, both the buyer and the seller run at a loss. The report about the Governor’s visit to the National Assembly is a screaming falsehood that exposes the decay in parts of the online media.
“The reporter reached out to me and I explained to him how everything he was told was false. But because he felt there are no consequences for defamation, he went ahead to publish what was logically false and has no place in protocol management.
“He wasn’t there for partisan reasons; he was there because a Kogite has been given a national assignment — the first of its kind — while he is the Governor of the State. He is not the Governor of APC, but the Governor of Kogi State, the number one citizen of the State.
“He wasn’t ‘bounced’ as imagined by the hired gun journalists of the Daily Post. Who would have bounced the number one citizen of a State? Only a few ‘special’ people would believe such a story.”
Mr Fanwo further clarified that Governor Ododo’s visit to the National Assembly was to show solidarity with the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who hails from Kogi State, as well as to support the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, during his screening.
According to the Commissioner, after the visit to the National Assembly, Governor Ododo proceeded to the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to submit the report of the Ekiti State Governorship Primary Committee, which he chaired.
He noted that the Governor was warmly received and commended for successfully conducting a transparent and peaceful primary election in Ekiti State.
Fanwo accused some political actors and their media allies of orchestrating smear campaigns against the Governor due to his rising popularity and developmental achievements in Kogi State.
He said, “No institution in Nigeria would bounce the number one citizen of a state. Our protocol department is top-notch, and the Governor does not move without proper communication. Those behind the fake report are simply desperate to mislead the public.”
The Commissioner urged the media to uphold integrity, verify information, and refrain from publishing politically sponsored reports capable of undermining public trust.
