Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has been known for his inconsistent political stance and lack of support for President Tinubu’s leadership. Bello has openly criticized the President, even during the presidential primaries and election campaign, using every available media platform to belittle him. He even walked out of a meeting with the Northern Governor’s Forum, where a decision was made to zone the presidency to the South after President Buhari completed his two terms.
Bello vehemently opposed this decision and threatened to address the press, ignoring pleas from the Governor of Borno State to reconsider his actions. Not only did he contest the primaries against President Tinubu, but he also resorted to using abusive language and mocking him for his age and dressing style. We have video evidence and other materials to substantiate these claims.
Regarding the 2023 presidential election, Bello’s lack of support for the APC and Asiwaju Tinubu is evident from the INEC results. While Tinubu received less than 22,000 votes in Okene, Bello’s preferred candidate, Ododo, received 143,000 votes under the same party. It will also interest you to know that, Bello lost his senatorial seat to a woman from the PDP, and the PDP also won several House of Reps and Assembly seats in the state. This raises questions about Bello’s loyalty to the APC.
Contrary to Bello’s claims, it was Muri Ajaka, the former national leader of the APC, who worked tirelessly to secure victory for the party. He won his Senate seat, as well as all the House of Reps and Assembly seats. Ajaka donated campaign offices to Tinubu/Shettima in Lokoja and all the local government areas of Kogi State. He also provided cars for the APC structures across the state, from the state level down to the local government areas and wards. These efforts contributed significantly to the APC’s victory in Kogi State. As a testament to his humble nature and willingness to help others, 88% of those who are currently in the SDP were initially supporters of Muri Ajaka.
Bello and Ododo should provide evidence of their contributions to the victory of Asiwaju and the APC. It is undeniable that Muri Ajaka, once a national figure in the APC, played a crucial role in the party’s success before resigning to seek a mandate on another platform.
Bello’s continuous attacks on the EFCC, undermining the power of the President, reflect his character. The EFCC is a legally created institution that the President has sworn to protect and abide by. Bello should stop organizing fake protests in Lokoja and Abuja and instead go to the EFCC to clear his innocence.
As for the ongoing tribunal, let the judiciary do their job without interference from media attacks and propaganda. The people of Kogi State deserve justice, and claims of overvoting, pre-filed results, and the APC candidate’s lack of qualifications have been presented with no valid objections by the respondents.
Omeiza Salami, writes from Abuja, FCT
