A media group, Volunteer Media Advocacy For Accountable Leadership has described as laughable and childish, the position of Kogi state government in defending the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello over alleged co-conspirator in an alleged corrupt conduct.
Bello’s name was mentioned during the re-arraignment of his nephew, Ali Bello, a co-defendant for money laundering at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
A press statement signed by the National Secretary of the group, Buba Bakori stated that the present government under Ahmed Ododo, his Commissionersand other government functionaries should as a matter of urgency stop wasting state resources in defending what is known to be facts.
Bakori said it’s undemocratic and politically improper for the state government to speak on behalf of Bello, who is now an ordinary citizen, whose immunity has expired.
“It is only normal that the past governor give account of his stewardship during his stay in office because he was elected by the people of the state.
“It is a common fact that Nigerians are aware of Bello’s alleged excesses in government and that a day of reckoning would eventually come for him and we urge him, Ododo and his Commissioners to cease this campaign of calumny and blackmail against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“We have seen all the sponsored Television appearances defending the former governor who has refused to appear before the EFCC to defend the allegation charges against him. Who pays for the appearances? We have also seen state government taking a full page advertorial in some national newspapers among other print and electronic mediums.
“Kogi state as a matter of fact, needs divine intervention for it’s workforce and retired civil servants to get their wages as at when due, but the state government is busy spending state funds defending Yahaya Bello “.
“We see the efforts of Yahaya Bello, Ododo and his Commissioners, as desperation moves to divert attention from the alleged fraud charged against the former Kogi Governor.
“We are also witnesses to how over 14 properties and 400 million linked to Yahaya Bello were confiscated by the EFCC, Yahaya Bello is not above former Governors Fayose, Jolly Nyame, Dariye, Ramallan Yaro, and others who were investigated.”
The group urged Yahaya Bello, Ododo to halt their campaign of calumny and blackmail, and instead focus on clearing his name from the allegations of fraud.
