In a ceremony to mark the official change of power, Usman Ododo has been sworn in as the governor of Kogi State after months he was elected to take over from Yahaya Bello who has completed his second term in office.
Soon after his swearing on Saturday alongside his Deputy Salifu Joel Oyibo at the Muhammadu Buhari Mini Stadium, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, Ododo went on to announce his first appointments during the inauguration event.
He announced the appointment of Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Ayoade was also the SSG under former governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
The governor also announced the appointment of Ali Bello as the Chief of staff, Alhaji Suleman Ibrahim, as the Director General, Protocol and Oladele John Nihi as the Chief Press Secretary.
On the same day, the governor nominated some commissioners and other top aides. Some of those appointed served in the immediate past government of Yahaya Bello. They include Folashade Ayoade Arike, Kingsley Fanwo, and Deedat Salami Ozigi, among others.
The event had in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Ododo’s predecessor, Yahaya Bello; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje and other top members of the ruling party.
In his speech, Governor Ododo said that the days of politics of bitterness in Kogi is over.
He pledged that under his leadership, Kogi State will become one of the sub-national pilots for key drivers of the Federal Government programmes in food security, poverty eradication, job creation, access to capital, the inclusion of the rule of law, the fight against corruption and overall economic growth which will have a local adaptation to the realities of Kogi State.