By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Media Office of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Tuesday said it has uncovered a high-wired plan by some persons to frame the former governor up as one of the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
Mr Michael Ohiare, former Senior Special Assistant (Print Media) to Yahaya Bello, signed a statement issued by the Media Office on Tuesday in Lokoja.
He described those behind the allegations as disgruntled enemies of the nation and persons on the “Project Bring Down Yahaya Bello.”
Ohiare stated that one Jackson Ude, published a “fake, malicious and unintelligent report about an imaginary involvement of His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello in the ongoing 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,
“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.
“We consider the claims by the discredited Jackson Ude as reckless and irresponsibly malicious. Yahaya Bello is a patriot who has devoted his time, resources and energy to building a united and prosperous Nigeria”, the Media Office added.
Ohiare went further to chronicle various efforts of former governor Yahaya Bello while in office including his swift action when he mediated between the Northern food transporters and their Southern counterparts and brokered peace between the two regions.
He hinted that in the build up to the 2023 Presidential Poll, a number of impediments and political cum economic landmines were laid on the road by those bent on truncating the Tinubu’s presidential ambition, including the Naira Redesign Policy.
“It was the same Yahaya Bello with some of his colleagues then that dared the system and secured the judgement that set that aside at the Supreme Court. It was a landmark intervention at a time that the nation was almost collapsing.
“In the Presidential Poll, Alh. Yahaya Bello mobilised Kogites massively to deliver victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“He also mobilized the youth of the nation as the Youth Mobilization Committee Chairman because of his faith in the leadership capacity of Mr President”, the statement pointed out.
The statement further posited that Ude’s latest post on social media where he made ridiculously outrageous claims of Yahaya Bello’s involvement in a phantom scheme to instigate a military coup is a further demonstration of the antics of some powerful people to ensure they put a wedge between the President and Bello.
The former Senior Special Assistant described former Governor Yahaya Bello as a patriot and democrat Par Excellence who would never do anything to upset Nigeria’s democratic status.
He further asserted that Bello invested his considerable energy, time and resources in supporting the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to whom he has remained loyal and committed to this day.
“We call on the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to investigate the claims of this serial blackmailer with a view to bringing him to book.
“This is a matter of national security, which must not be taken lightly. We will take all necessary legal actions to get Ude to answer for his crimes.
“For the records, even in the worst of times, he, Yahaya Bello has remained committed to the success of the All Progressives Congress government. He will continue to work for the progress, development and stability of Nigeria even in his private capacity.
“The intelligence agencies of Nigeria are not incompetent. They don’t need criminal minded elements to unravel treasonable activities.
“We state here categorically, unequivocally, and in the strongest of terms, that His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello has no hand and will never be interested in any act that tends to destabilize the country or disturb the peace, harmony and greatness of our dear nation.
“We urge the general public to disregard the falsehood by Jackson Ude and rally support behind Mr President who is taking every necessary step to return our nation to greatness”, he said.