A former Governorship aspirant in Kogi state and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr. Joseph Erico has told the world and Nigeria anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to be professional in there conducts and not be selective while carrying out there constitutional duties.
The veteran security consultant, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, the administrative headquarters of Nigeria.
He noted that the drama between the anti-graft agency and the former Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has raised so many reactions which many believes has made the anti-graft agency to be heading contrary with there core practices and activities in handling issues relating to corruption and financial crimes.
Recall that the incumbent Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has said time without number that he has not traced any money lost in the state since he assumed office as the Governor of the confluence state in January, 2024.
“This is a case of someone who visit you to sympathize with you on the information he/she heard that you are bereaved, but only to come to console you, while you tell the person that you are not bereaved. ” Thank you for coming, I am not bereaved “. But rather than go back to his/her house in peace knowing that the information he received is forced, he started telling everybody that he came to your house to condole with you, but you said you are not bereaved. It is a testament that the person is crying more than the bereaved.
“When the incubent Governor said no money is lost, what allegation again against the former Governor. You said my money is lost and I said no, my money is not lost.
“Going by the records before me as the Governor, Kogi state money is not lost. It is expected that the anti-graft agency be professional and let the former Governor have his peace since the state government had cleared and exonerated him of any wrong doing.
“There is alot of corrupt cases instituted against so many former Governors of different states which we all see them moving freely from one point to another without been arrested, embarrassed or ridiculed by the EFCC.
“This are some of the reasons while Nigerians are doubting the integrity of the anti-graft agency since what is expected of them to be professional are contrary to the way at which they are carrying out there constitutional duties.
“As a former Governorship aspirant in Kogi state, I think I know little about the achievements of the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello in his eight years as Governor. Go to Kogi state and see things for yourself. See the way he turned the state to what we have today
“This is a man who built a world class reference hospital that is competing with other world class hospitals around the world. This is the man that established primary healthcare across the twenty one local government area of Kogi state, you can visit Kogi state and prove us wrong.
“This is a man when he was Governor constructed the first fly-over in the history of Kogi state, you know what the financial implications to build a fly-over. Go to Kogi state by Ganaja junction and see things yourself. Before the Governor constructed that fly-over, it was a death trap for those using the road on a daily basis, but today, there is no accident nor casualties again in that area.
“In the area of education, just go to Kogi state, the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello established two state owned universities. We have one as, Confluence University of Technology, Osara and one as, Kogi state University, Kabba.
“As am speaking to you right now the two institutions are functioning verry well, seeing the numbers of students enrolling in the two state owned universities established by the former Governor.
“Today, Kogi state is proud to have a well functioning three state owned universities. We have the first state University as, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, formerly Kogi state University, Anyigba.
“Because of the Governor’s love for education and his strong believe that no society can succeed without education, the former Governor went ahead to established model secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Kogi state with world class facilities. Please, you can visit the state and see things yourself.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in this matter while calling on the EFCC to be professional in there conducts. The case against former Governor Yahaya Bello is more of persecution than prosecution and this should be stopped. Thank you and God bless Nigeria” he said.
