Kogi is known for all forms of political misdemeanor both in government and out of government spanned for over eight years.
It is only in Kogi state that a former governor will still be parading himself with the paraphernalia of office, even out of government.
Embarrassingly, former Kogi governor , Yahaya Bello declared wanted by the anti graft agency , the first in the history of Nigeria came under a cover of a serving governor and immunity to reluctantly and ceremoniously submit himself to the EFCC neck to neck with a serving governor after many months , with a promise by the incumbent governor who had vowed to continue to do the immediate predecessors’s deal .
No doubt, the current governor who served under the ex Kogi governor for many years as auditor general for local government for Kogi state was an awkward period when primary schools teachers and local government workers were perpetually on percentage salaries for close to a decade.
Therefore , giving a cover to ex Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello was by extension protecting and postponing the bad days not minding his immunity in the current dispensation.
Rather than submitting himself to the constituted authority, Kogi government and ex Kogi governor has decided to dramatize , politicise the whole scenario,to attract public sympathy after ruling the state like a pharaoh for eight consecutive years.
Twice in an occasion, Bello is been shield from arrest and quizzing by the power that be in Kogi state, via Ododo as the scenario at Bello’s Abuja residence and the latest one at EFCC was a pointer to resisting the law to take its course.
Emissaries to former Kogi governor to submit himself to the anti graft agency had met stiff resistance from his followers and apologists , who choose media hype to drive home their bad old times waiting to bait .
The implications of what is happening in Kogi and by extension the entire country is that Bello had become glaringly above the law with the instrument of power at his peck and call to deploy for all his willy nilly gimmicks .
Hired lawyers, media apologists, self appointed NGOs and CSOs including former political office holders who are glaringly under the cocoon of former kogi governor have expressed condemnation and at the same time support Bello’s moves to visit EFCC as Very Important Personalty VIP.
Bello who was alleged to have diverted over 80.2 Billion has blatantly refused to submit himself for scrutiny, only to be protected by the incumbent governor, Usman Ododo.
The lawlessness prevalent in Kogi and the above the law tendencies been displayed by the current handlers of the state was an indicator that Nigeria centre may not hold if the trend continues.
As at press time , Bello had gone underground again after resisting an attempt to be arrested by EFCC at the government reserve area of Asokoro and his residence.
The challenge before the anti graft agency, the EFCC is that Bello must not be insulated from judicial scrutiny , as one of the ingredients of democratic process is bringing an alleged culprit before the law of the land for proper interpretation of any allegations levelled against anyone , no matter how highly placed .
*ABUBAKAR YUSUF ,a Public Affairs Analyst,can be reached on [email protected].
