Crisis Erupts Between Kogi Governor Ododo and Predecessor Yahaya Bello Over Dismissal of Loyalist and 1,200 Bags of Rice

Tensions have flared between Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, following the dismissal of Hassan Atawodi, the transition committee chairman of Ofu local government area.

Atawodi, appointed by Bello on January 9, 2024, was removed by the current governor, sparking what insiders describe as a “silent crisis” between the two leaders.

While the exact reason for Atawodi’s dismissal remains unclear, political observers speculate it may be linked to the alleged diversion of 1,200 bags of palliative rice intended for distribution to indigent constituents. Sources indicate that Governor Ododo accused Atawodi of diverting the rice, which was then reportedly hijacked by the deputy governor, Joel Salifu Oyibo, and subsequently sold.

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Trouble for Atawodi began when he purportedly refused to comply with Deputy Governor Oyibo’s directive to distribute the rice to party stakeholders instead of the intended recipients. Atawodi’s resistance led to tensions, with the deputy governor allegedly threatening repercussions.

In response, Governor Ododo swiftly replaced Atawodi with Musa Muhammed Lawal, known as Solar, as the new transition chairman of Ofu local government area. This move underscores the escalating rift between Ododo and Bello, as Atawodi, a loyalist of the former governor, is perceived as a threat to the new administration.

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The dismissal of Atawodi and the subsequent appointment of Solar mark the latest development in the ongoing power struggle between Kogi’s current and former governors, highlighting underlying tensions within the state’s political landscape.