- Yahaya Bello, who is currently facing allegations of misappropriation of public funds, said he is not involved with the protests
- Yahaya Bello condemned the protesters displaying the Russian flag
- He said his enemies were trying to frame him up, adding that he had always been a supporter of Tinubu
The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is currently facing criticism over an allegation of money laundering and misappropriation of about N80.2 billion, said he is not involved with the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protests.
The former governor disclosed this through a statement released on Wednesday, August 8, and signed by Michael Ohiare, his media aide.
Yahaya Bello claimed his enemies tried to frame him up
The statement 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,”
Yahaya Bello condemns protesters on display of Russian flag
“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 further highlighted Bello's swift actions in resolving a serious conflict between the North and the South, which could have led to 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.”
Yahaya Bello has always supported the President
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.”
Hunger protests: Kano Government arrests 632 protesters, including Spanish nationals
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that three mobile courts in Kano state ruled that 632 protesters be held in custody for suspected vandalism of properties amid the #Endbadgovernance protests.
According to the report, six Spanish nationals linked to the protests, a tailor responsible for making Russian flags and 76 others were taken into custody.