Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has vehemently denied claims that he is sponsoring the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests across the country. In a statement issued by his media office, Bello described the allegations as “part of the grand plans by some enemies of the former governor to frame him.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The statement, signed by Michael Ohiare, reads in part:
“We have uncovered a high-wired plan by some disgruntled enemies of the nation and persons on the ‘Project Bring Down Yahaya Bello’, to frame him up as one of the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.”
Bello said that the agenda to blackmail him is being carried out by clout-chasing criminals and unpatriotic Nigerians.
“We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to a clout-chasing criminal, blackmailer and blackmail pawn, a hired gun in the hands of some unpatriotic Nigerians, who published a fake, malicious and unintelligent report about an imaginary involvement of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in the ongoing protests across the country.”
How Yahaya Bello Contributed To Tinubu’s Campaign
The statement further highlighted Bello’s contributions during the campaign trail in 2023.
“In the build-up to the 2023 presidential poll, several impediments and political cum economic landmines were laid on the road, including the naira redesign policy. It was the same Yahaya Bello with some of his colleagues then who dared the system and secured the judgment that set aside the policy at the Supreme Court. It was a landmark intervention at a time that the nation was almost collapsing.”
The statement also highlighted Bello’s role in mobilizing residents of Kogi to deliver victory for President Tinubu during the presidential election.
“Can the masterminds of his persecution show the world the results of their state? Yahaya Bello also mobilized the youth of the nation as the APC Youth Mobilization Committee Chairman, because of his faith in the leadership capacity of Mr. President,” the statement read.
The denial comes as Bello’s whereabouts remain unknown since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declared him wanted over an alleged N80.2bn fraud. Despite being a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and an ally of the President, Tinubu is not on record to have intervened to stop the criminal case or offer the ex-governor protection.