Kogi Women Urge Peaceful Arrest of Former Governor

By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja

A Group of women politicians in Kogi State, north central Nigeria, under the banner of Kogi Women Group On Good Governance, has called on Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite the former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello for interrogation without use of force.

The group says instead of the open confrontation by the anti-corruption operatives to arrest Ex-Governor Bello, the agency should seek a peaceful way to Interrogate the former Governor to answer allegations of corruption against him.

Addressing a World press conference at the state NUJ Press Centre in Lokoja on Saturday, Convener of the Press conference, Mrs. Grace Tukura, said members of the women group from the three Senatorial Zones of the state, were disturbed by the recent attempt by the anti-corruption operatives to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello.

Political persecution

The group alleged that Bello was a victim of political persecution orchestrated by the fifth columnists within and outside the state, hellbent on their political machinations to blacken the political image of the former governor of Kogi State.

The women threatened to go naked on the streets if the EFCC refuses to adopt a civil and professional way to secure Bello’s arrest since according to the group, “the former Governor has proven that he is a respecter of the rule of law, a peaceful person and a good icon in the Country who respects the law institutions by willingly making himself available to the anti-graft agency for interrogation.”

“From his voluntary visit to the EFCC office, We are confident that any time the former Governor is invited, he is ready to make himself available to the Commission in accordance with the relevant laws of the country.

“We therefore call on the EFCC to re-invite the former Governor to its office as it beholds on the anti-corruption agency to act professionally within the ambit of the law by extending another invitation to the former Governor.”

A member of the group, Mrs. Oladuni Aisha, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to wade into the crisis to save former Governor Yahaya Bello, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and entire people of Kogi State from unnecessary political crisis.

Lateefah Ibrahim