A human rights organisation, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), has petitioned the Chief Coroner of the Hight Court of Lagos State to investigate the death of a 14-year-old girl, Jumoke Oyeleke who was allegedly killed by the Police during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on Saturday.
In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, dated July 5, 2021 and signed by Funmi Falana, the group said the coroner’s inquest will shed more light into the girl’s death.
She was allegedly hit by a police stray bullet “in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.”
The letter seeks a probe into the death of a young trader, Jumoke, whom policemen in their bid to disperse Yoruba nation agitators allegedly accidentally killed on Saturday.
FLASH: Street Trader Killed As Police Shoot Live Bullets At Yoruba Nation Agitators In Lagos pic.twitter.com/qn74HWFvX2
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 3, 2021
The reaction in the letter by WELA reads, “On the 3rd day of July, 2021, the agitators for Yoruba self-determination gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota for a rally amid heavy presence of security operatives.
“In the process of dispersing the protesters, the security operatives chased them and shot sporadically into the crowd. A young trader, Jumoke Oyeleke, who was hit by stray bullet gave up the ghost.
“In the light of the foregoing, we request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the tragic death of Jumoke Oyeleke and make appropriate recommendations pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law 2007 which provides that an 'an inquest shall hold whenever a Coroner is informed that the death of a deceased person within his Coroner District as a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation'.
“It will be appreciated if the inquest is conducted without delay and the report made public to forestall such ugly occurrence.”
A human rights organisation, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), has petitioned the Chief Coroner of the Hight Court of Lagos State to investigate the death of a 14-year-old girl, Jumoke Oyeleke who was allegedly killed by the Police during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on Saturday.
In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, dated July 5, 2021 and signed by Funmi Falana, the group said the coroner’s inquest will shed more light into the girl’s death.
She was allegedly hit by a police stray bullet “in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.”
The letter seeks a probe into the death of a young trader, Jumoke, whom policemen in their bid to disperse Yoruba nation agitators allegedly accidentally killed on Saturday.
FLASH: Street Trader Killed As Police Shoot Live Bullets At Yoruba Nation Agitators In Lagos pic.twitter.com/qn74HWFvX2
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 3, 2021
The reaction in the letter by WELA reads, “On the 3rd day of July, 2021, the agitators for Yoruba self-determination gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota for a rally amid heavy presence of security operatives.
“In the process of dispersing the protesters, the security operatives chased them and shot sporadically into the crowd. A young trader, Jumoke Oyeleke, who was hit by stray bullet gave up the ghost.
“In the light of the foregoing, we request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the tragic death of Jumoke Oyeleke and make appropriate recommendations pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law 2007 which provides that an 'an inquest shall hold whenever a Coroner is informed that the death of a deceased person within his Coroner District as a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation'.
“It will be appreciated if the inquest is conducted without delay and the report made public to forestall such ugly occurrence.”
The Kaduna State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 13 schools located in areas that have been identified as vulnerable to attacks by bandits.
This followed Monday’s bandit attack on Bethel Baptist school in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where an unspecified number of students were kidnapped.
Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai
The directive which was issued by the Director-General of Quality Assurance Authority in the state Ministry of Education, Umma Ahmed, to proprietors of private schools, says the closure was with immediate effect.
The statement warned against failure to comply.
“You are hereby advised to adhere to the contents of this letter as appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to schools that are found wanting for non-compliance, please,” she said.
Ahmed listed the names of the affected schools to include, Faith Academy, along Kachia Road adjacent to Jakaranda; Deeper Life Academy, Maraban Rido; Ecwa Secondary School, Ungwar Maje and Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi.
Others are St. Peters Minor Seminary, Katari; Prelude Secondary School, Kujama; Ibiso Secondary school, Tashar Iche; Tulip International (Boys) School and Tulip International (Girls) School.
Also on the list are Goodnews Secondary School, St. Augustine, Kujama; Comprehensive Development Institution (CDI), Tudun Mare and Adventist College, Kujama.
Faith Academy is owned by Living Faith Church Worldwide, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo.
The school is not far from a boarding school where many students were abducted in the Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
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The Kaduna State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 13 schools located in areas that have been identified as vulnerable to attacks by bandits.
This followed Monday’s bandit attack on Bethel Baptist school in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where an unspecified number of students were kidnapped.
Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai
The directive which was issued by the Director-General of Quality Assurance Authority in the state Ministry of Education, Umma Ahmed, to proprietors of private schools, says the closure was with immediate effect.
The statement warned against failure to comply.
“You are hereby advised to adhere to the contents of this letter as appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to schools that are found wanting for non-compliance, please,” she said.
Ahmed listed the names of the affected schools to include, Faith Academy, along Kachia Road adjacent to Jakaranda; Deeper Life Academy, Maraban Rido; Ecwa Secondary School, Ungwar Maje and Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi.
Others are St. Peters Minor Seminary, Katari; Prelude Secondary School, Kujama; Ibiso Secondary school, Tashar Iche; Tulip International (Boys) School and Tulip International (Girls) School.
Also on the list are Goodnews Secondary School, St. Augustine, Kujama; Comprehensive Development Institution (CDI), Tudun Mare and Adventist College, Kujama.
Faith Academy is owned by Living Faith Church Worldwide, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo.
The school is not far from a boarding school where many students were abducted in the Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
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The media and publicity secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says he or the group has not accused Senator Ifeanyi Uba and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of being involved in the arrest of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Powerful, in a statement signed by himself and obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, warned those who used his name to issue a statement which linked Uba and Wike to the betrayal of the IPOB leader to desist from such.
Nnamdi Kanu
He reiterated that the group does not work on speculations as it does not have evidence that the two politicians were involved in the abduction of Kanu in Kenya.
IPOB spokesman, however, said the group would not hesitate to disclose it to the public if it had any proof against them, adding that those who participated in the abduction and torture of Kanu would not go scot-free.
The group said this in its reaction to a statement and video it claimed was circulating on the social media that Powerful accused Uba and Wike of being part of those who betrayed Kanu.
“The attention of global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the false and malicious press statement and audio being circulated, and purported to have been issued by our Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful.
“In the said statement, Powerful was quoted as accusing Senator Ifeanyi Uba; and Gov. Nyesom Wike of colluding with the enemies and facilitating the betrayal and abduction of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya.
“We, therefore, wish to dissociate from the fake statement being peddled by agents of confusion. Our Publicity Secretary never at any time linked Senator Ifeanyi Uba or Governor Wike with the wicked betrayal of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. If they were involved in the dirty deal, our investigations into the matter will reveal it.
“But for now, we have no evidence to link them with the atrocity. IPOB does not act based on speculation or rumour. Our assertions are evidence-based and products on credible intelligence,” part of the statement said.
The group’s spokesman, also insisted, that the "treacherous acts" that led to the arrest of his boss were facilitated by Kenyan government, adding that Uba’s political enemies should not use Kanu’s predicament against the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State.
“We, therefore, warn unscrupulous elements and 'One chance politicians' using the name of IPOB's Media and Publicity Secretary to dish out a fake press statement to stop such criminality immediately.
“Those behind this evil should know that we will unravel their identity. They can't hide for too long. They will incur the unmitigated wrath of IPOB if they don't stop this nonsense.
“For the benefit doubt, IPOB has only linked the betrayal and abduction of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to President Uhuru Kenyetta of Kenya, Nigeria's Ambassador to Kenya, Kenyan's Ambassador to Nigeria, Willfred Machage and the Nigerian Government. Other collaborators in this heinous crime will be made public based on incontrovertible evidence.
“But for now, we restate that Senator Ifeanyi Uba has not been found to have any hand in it. His political opponents should try other ways of settling scores with him and leave IPOB and our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu out of it. We must trace those behind this and they will regret their action for dragging IPOB into the zoo's politics and for impersonation.
“We, therefore, urge members of the public to disregard the said fake press release and shun any purported statement from IPOB that is not from a credible source or our usual channels,” Powerful added in the statement.
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The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has faulted the suspension of the Chairman, Kano State Public Compaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhyi Magaji.
The group said it is not only suspicious but violates the law that set up the Commission.
Suraju Olanrewaju
This was made known by HEDA in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju on Monday.
HEDA said the suspension of Magaji reflects a conscious attempt by the political leadership of the state to muzzle the Commission and undermine its independence.
It added that the suspension is not only suspicious but against the law that set up the Commission.
"The suspension of Magaji has raised a lot of credibility problems for the Kano House of Assembly. From all indications, the lawmakers wanted to impose a stooge on the Chairman to interfere in the finances of the commission," HEDA said.
Quoting Section 8 of the Law setting up the Commission, the group said, "In exercising its powers under this law, the Commission shall not be subjected to the direction and control of any authority."
HEDA said employment of staff members at the Commission was the prerogative of the Chairman, citing section 15 (g to i) which states that the Commission shall "make general policies for the appointments, promotions and discipline of its staff; make rules for the general administration of the Commission" among other things.
"Since Magaji assumed office, he has proved to be committed to discharging his duties with fairness, equity and the highest moral ground. This suspension, coming after rumoured attempt by the Governor to instigate removal of the Chairman through the Assembly, is unfortunate, condemnable and retrogressive at time when civil ociety organisations and advocates are making strong case for Sub'national Anti-Corruption Agencies.
"HEDA was in the Commission's office in Kano in 2019 and provided capacity building support, free of charge to the staff. We have had cause to examine the excellent work the Commission has been doing and its determination to fight corruption without fear or favour. His suspension is a dent on the democratic process in Kano," Suraju said.
The Kano State House of Assembly earlier suspended the Chairman of the state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Rimin Gado for a month.
The anti-graft boss was said to have been suspended over his alleged rejection of an accountant posted to the agency from the office of the Kano State Accountant General.
This followed a letter of complaint against him sent to the Assembly by the Accountant General’s office.
The letter revealed that the chairman appointed a grade level 4 as an accountant of the Commission which is contrary to the provisions of the law.
Mr Magaji was asked to vacate his office for one month.
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The Governors of the southern region of the country converged in Lagos State for a meeting to discuss pertinent national matters on Monday, saying that arrests must be made in conformity with the rule of law and respect for the fundamental human rights.
The southern governors' forum noted that it frowned on selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law.
In the past week, the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and attempted arrest of Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho, have led to widespread condemnation on the questionable manner of the operations.
In a communique issued at the end of their meeting and signed by the Chairman and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, the forum said, "The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Rising from the meeting, the Forum agreed on the following:
"1. Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
"2. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.
"3. Security; a. The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
"b. Re-emphasised the need for State Police; c. Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the state must be duly informed;
"d. The forum frowns on selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambits of the law and fundamental human rights."
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Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has said there will be what he described as a 'huge squawk' if the truth is known about how the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by the Nigerian government.
Soyinka gave the warning during a recent interview with BBC Pidgin.
Wole SoyinkaBritannica
The eminent professor opined that Kanu was kidnapped as against the claim that he was intercepted.
He further advised Nigerian government to show eagerness in arresting bandits and terrorists.
He said, “It’s not for me to tell the president to prepare himself because it’s going to be a huge squawk when the truth about how Kanu was arrested comes out. People are alleging this or that. That is one phase whether Nigeria has acted outside international law.
“The second issue, however, has to do with Kanu’s conduct outside the nation. There’s been a level of hate rhetoric which has been unfortunate, from Kanu. Hate rhetoric is an issue that can only be judged by the laws of any nation.
“Was it right ‘to have been kidnapped?’ You can say intercepted as much as you want but I think Kanu was kidnapped. That is wrong internationally and morally.
“The government cannot wash itself clean on what seems to be a kind of comparative energy in pursuing the destabilised forces in the nation,” he said.
“If we take ourselves back, once when I threw a challenge to Buhari, what I expect from a true leader is to issue an order, give a deadline that any illegal occupant of any villages, farms is given 48 hours to quit after which the mighty forces of the nation will be unleashed on them. It was ignored.
“Years later, he came to say ‘we will respond to these people in the language they understand’. This is what I expected him to have said years ago, at the beginning of the insurgency.
“Their leadership–the Miyetti Allah — should have been arrested years ago, long before IPOB was declared a terrorist organisation.”
Kanu, whose rearrest and extradition to Nigeria has sparked the outrage in some quarters, is facing 11 counts of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others.
He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja last Tuesday and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27.
Nigerian Government said security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of Kanu for over two years before he was re-arrested.
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Human rights activists, Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju have met with the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche over the arrest of six activists in the church for wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts on Sunday.
The activists arrived at the church around 3:00pm alongside their lawyer, Barrister Abubakar Marshal, and had a closed-door meeting with the pastor where it was confirmed that the arrest was made by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) but not the church security officials.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Adeyanju explained that the church has no hand in the entire incident that happened.
He added that the pastor informed them that he had taken steps at 7:00am to ensure that the activists were released.
He said the pastor confirmed that the activists committed no crime and that he had reached out to the DSS authority regarding the matter.
Adeyanju said, "There is something the pastor said which I must reemphasise here, that they did not like the fact that the activists came and were making noises here but that he doesn't want this thing to be misconstrued to mean it is the church that is sponsoring the protest."
While clarifying the matter, Sowore said the pastor denied claims by some persons that the activists were trying to disrupt the church service.
He said the pastor confirmed to them that he saw them when they came out for altar call that he was even excited seeing them and that the claim was not true.
Sowore said, "They came here and it is their right, I wore my own T-shirt to meet with him today, my #BuhariMustGo T-shirt. So there is nobody who can tell you what to wear to church or to wear to school except schools that have uniforms.
"But we are adults and if we are tired of the system and we say the system must collapse, it is our right to express ourselves freely. I told the pastor when he said he was not happy when the activists were trying to protest within the premises that with the way things are going on, more and more people will be wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts to the church because people are tired of Buhari regime.
"We have a respectable agreement and some disagreements over this issue but what is important to me and why I don't want to drag this for too long is the release of these individuals from detention.
"We are going to wait till evening because we requested that they should be released today (Monday). Nobody knows their whereabouts. We don't know whether they have been fed or they have been tortured."
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the gate of the church when the activists were granting press interviews.
Some overzealous policemen challenged them and pointed guns at the journalists who were conducting the interviews.
The situation led to heated arguments as the gun-wielding operatives insisted on knowing their mission for granting Interviews at the gate.
The confusion which lasted for a few minutes was brought under control when the activists stood their ground that they had not violated any law by their action.
Human rights activists, Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju have met with the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche over the arrest of six activists in the church for wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts on Sunday.
The activists arrived at the church around 3:00pm alongside their lawyer, Barrister Abubakar Marshal, and had a closed-door meeting with the pastor where it was confirmed that the arrest was made by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) but not the church security officials.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Adeyanju explained that the church has no hand in the entire incident that happened.
He added that the pastor informed them that he had taken steps at 7:00am to ensure that the activists were released.
He said the pastor confirmed that the activists committed no crime and that he had reached out to the DSS authority regarding the matter.
Adeyanju said, "There is something the pastor said which I must reemphasise here, that they did not like the fact that the activists came and were making noises here but that he doesn't want this thing to be misconstrued to mean it is the church that is sponsoring the protest."
While clarifying the matter, Sowore said the pastor denied claims by some persons that the activists were trying to disrupt the church service.
He said the pastor confirmed to them that he saw them when they came out for altar call that he was even excited seeing them and that the claim was not true.
Sowore said, "They came here and it is their right, I wore my own T-shirt to meet with him today, my #BuhariMustGo T-shirt. So there is nobody who can tell you what to wear to church or to wear to school except schools that have uniforms.
"But we are adults and if we are tired of the system and we say the system must collapse, it is our right to express ourselves freely. I told the pastor when he said he was not happy when the activists were trying to protest within the premises that with the way things are going on, more and more people will be wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts to the church because people are tired of Buhari regime.
"We have a respectable agreement and some disagreements over this issue but what is important to me and why I don't want to drag this for too long is the release of these individuals from detention.
"We are going to wait till evening because we requested that they should be released today (Monday). Nobody knows their whereabouts. We don't know whether they have been fed or they have been tortured."
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the gate of the church when the activists were granting press interviews.
Some overzealous policemen challenged them and pointed guns at the journalists who were conducting the interviews.
The situation led to heated arguments as the gun-wielding operatives insisted on knowing their mission for granting Interviews at the gate.
The confusion which lasted for a few minutes was brought under control when the activists stood their ground that they had not violated any law by their action.
Hundreds of women, including parents of kidnapped Bethel Baptist School students on Monday, blocked the Kachia Highway in Maraban Rido to protest against the incessant kidnapping of schoolchildren in the state.
This followed the abduction of students on Monday morning from Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna.
The women around 3pm blocked the road with logs of wood, preventing commuters from using the road.
However, a military convoy arrived at the scene around 3:05pm and opened the road for commuters.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that suspected bandits kidnapped many over 160 students of Bethel Baptist School located in Maraban Rido in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The development comes just hours after bandits abducted babies, female nurses and security guards from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre (NTLC) in Zaria, Kaduna State on Sunday.
Soldiers in the early hours of Monday thwarted an attack on Faith Academy, a secondary school owned by Living Faith Church Worldwide, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo.
The school is not far from a boarding school where many students were abducted in the Chikun local government area of the state.
The gunmen had launched coordinated attacks on both Bethel secondary school and Faith Academy in the early hours of Monday.
While they abducted students at Bethel School, the attack on Faith Academy was foiled.
A security agent confirmed the gunmen broke into the premises of Faith Academy through the back fence around 1am but were repelled by soldiers, with assistance from the school security team.
A parent, whose son attends the school, told Daily Trust that the school management had last week instructed all students to go home, except SS3 students who were preparing for final year exams.
She said adequate provision has been made to move the SS3 students to Barnawa in Kaduna South local government area where they are expected to continue with their studies.
She commended security agents for their timely intervention, saying her son and others who were in the hostel during the attack are safe and have been evacuated from the school premises.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command through the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said he could not confirm it but security agents were busy thwarting attacks by bandits throughout the night.
The incident comes a few weeks after some students of Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri in Kebbi state were kidnapped after gunmen stormed the school.
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A wise man once said, "Human praises are ephemeral. Today they shout 'Hosanna'. Tomorrow, 'crucify him'."
While the wise man hadn't the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, in mind whilst making the above statement, the statement perfectly fits into timely advice for the lascivious governor who has become the chorus of every money mongering political balladeer in the land. No doubt, Bello enjoys the rhythms and chords of the music of his praise singers and loves to 'gbe body' to it. But how far will it go?
I have lived half a year in Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital, and had also made countless lengthy visits to Ankpa, a town that hosts one of the state's tertiary institutions (Kogi State College Of Education), so I'm a bonafide Kogite.
From Ogugu to Okene, from Kabba to Koton Karfe, and all over Kogi state, one song reverberates with loud decibels, "Yahaya Bello has failed!"
Ironically, that is a completely different tune from the popular songs being sung about Yahaya Bello on the Nigerian media. If you travel through the Okene-Lokoja/Abuja highway or Ankpa-Otukpa/Enugu expressway or any other major road in the state, you will be shocked that Yahaya Bello's Kogi is not anywhere near the 'Dubai' the media painted it to be neither is he the 'Messiah' his pipers are chorusing him to be.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Poverty is visible throughout the state; deathtrap roads, shaky bridges, rusty streetlight poles, dilapidated buildings are palpable.
For a man that was ushered into power by divine providence (the sudden demise of Prince Abubakar Audu, the substantial governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, PC, in the 2016 Kogi State gubernatorial election in 2015 - the debacle that led to the emergence of Yahaya Bello as APC gubernatorial candidate and eventual winner of the governorship election), Bello should ordinarily be the long-awaited Messiah of the state.
Moreso, he is the first Kogi Governor of Ebira extraction. But his perilous leadership style and paparazzi of governance have dashed such hope and expectations of million Kogites.
Kogi State despite being a natural industrial haven is unarguably one of the states with the most infrastructural deficiency in Nigeria. The state has no single airport, no functional industry, no modern port facility (despite being situated at the confluence of the two largest rivers in the country - River Niger and Benue). Lokoja the state capital and former colonial capital of Nigeria, cannot be compared to its colonial counterpart, Calabar in terms of infrastructural and economic developments. There is nothing to write home about Okene - Yahaya Bello's hometown.
Ajaokuta the locale of the moribund iron and steel company is stagnant. Ankpa is still as squalid as ever! The state-owned industries are in comatose. For the past five years of his administration, Yahaya Bello is infamously inept to brick the infrastructural gap of the state. Instead, he has aggravated the economic hardship in the state by persistently splurging taxpayers' money and resources meant for payment of staff salaries and development of the state on political jobbers and celebrities for his selfish and unrealistic presidential ambition.
Yahaya Adoza Bello has turned Kogi State into a 'Mecca of free money' for celebrities and political choir masters/mistresses who troop into his palatial Lord Lugard House ( Kogi State Government House) to fetch money from the 'Kogi ATM' just by posing with the governor or professing to endorse his presidential ambition.
"Has Governor Yahaya Bello successfully transformed the state he governs for five years that he is setting his eyes on the presidential seat?" This and many more are the questions currently spinning in the minds of million Nigerians who stumbled on such purported endorsements of Bello’s presidential ambition.
From wide-hipped drama doll, Destiny Etiko, to veteran actress, Ada Ameh, to "every Tom, Dick, and Harry" in Nollywood, to mixed martial artist, Kamaru Usman, to soccer stars, Mikel Obi and Kelechi Iheanacho, to football legends, Kanu Nwankwo and Jay-Jay Okocha, and even celebrity barman, Cubana Chief Priest, and other numerous celebrities and political jobbers (including his newfound musketeer, Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode), have all attended Bello's 'Big Money' feast in Lokoja.
Like Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia who was squandering money on his birthday celebration despite the great famine plaguing his people, Yahaya Bello is feasting and hosting 'outsiders' to parties with the state's resources while his people are languishing in poverty and incessant sanguinary upheavals.
The chorists singing his 'Hosanna' are only doing that for the benefit of their pockets. The proofs of his failure as a leader are in the public glare. Standing stoutly against Yahaya Bello's 2023 presidential ambition is his legacy of failure in Kogi.
Sunny Green Itodo
Is an essayist and satirist.
greenbox247online@gmail.com.
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