Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State has dismissed claims that he is among the sponsors of Endbadgovernance protests across the country.
This is coming amid allegations by certain quarters that Bello is one of the sponsors of the ongoing protests against hunger in the nation.
However, speaking via a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Michael Ohiare, the erstwhile governor claimed that it was a plan by his enemies to frame him.
The statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja read, “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.
“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.
“But it is pertinent to respond to the tirades of falsehood by the writer because it borders on national security. Our resolve is further strengthened by the condemnable act of some protesters displaying the flags of other nations.”
The statement described the claim as “reckless and irresponsibly malicious,” adding that the former governor remained a patriot who had devoted his time, resources and energy to building a united and prosperous Nigeria.
It said it was Bello who acted swiftly to resolve a major problem between the North and the South, which would have caused a major crisis in Nigeria.
“What threatened our fragile unity was resolved amicably on the negotiation table provided by Alhaji Yahaya Bello when he mediated between the northern food transporters and their southern counterparts and brought them together as food exchange between the two regions was threatened. That move earned him so much commendation by leaders of the country at that time.”
The media office said Bello had always been supportive of President Bola Tinubu, saying: “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.”
