Former Governor Yahaya Bello’s Legacies

Omeza Isah

1. Yahaya Bello was placed on a US visa ban list for undermining democracy in Nigeria.
2. He was accused of electoral fraud, incitement to violence, and involvement in a controversial gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
3. Bello repeated a chant imitating gunfire during a campaign rally in Ondo State, leading to accusations of organizing thugs to intimidate voters.
4. He denied the existence of COVID-19 and opposed vaccines, spreading misinformation about the virus and vaccination efforts.
5. Bello falsely claimed that COVID-19 was an artificial creation and refused to implement measures to combat the pandemic.
6. He rejected a substantial support fund from the World Bank for COVID-19, citing disbelief in the virus.
7. Bello falsely claimed that COVID-19 was a ploy to shorten people’s lives and refused to acknowledge the severity of the pandemic.
8. The governor opposed COVID-19 vaccinations, falsely suggesting that vaccines were designed to introduce deadly diseases.
9. He received a fake honorary professorship from a non-existent university, raising questions about his credibility.
10. Bello faced corruption allegations related to the mismanagement of security funds and office renovations.

11 He approved significant spending on security funds and office renovations without proper justification.

12. Bello’s administration was accused of corruption regarding budget allocations, including fictitious withdrawals and contract inflation.
13. The state budget allocated funds for COVID-19 countermeasures despite Bello’s denial of the virus’ existence.
14. Allegations of corruption included irregularities in awarding contracts and money laundering.
15. Bello’s government spent exorbitant amounts on COVID-tracking software, raising suspicions of misuse of funds.
16. The EFCC froze a Kogi State salary bailout account amid allegations of illegal funding and mismanagement.
17. Sterling Bank denied the existence of the frozen account, leading to disputes between the bank and the EFCC.
18. Bello denied the corruption allegations, accusing the EFCC of misleading the judiciary and the public.
19. The EFCC recovered a significant amount from the frozen account, prompting denials and lawsuits from the Kogi State government.
20. The Kogi State government sued the EFCC for damages, further escalating the dispute.

PS: He is a youth, not old. He is APC, not PDP. He is an accountant by training, not an illiterate. This man is a minority not a majority. He is suppose to be a good example for us to make daring statements and demands. But…

Omeza Isah writes from Okene, Kogi state