Yahaya Bello: Kogi Women Demands Apology from EFCC, Calls for Sack of Commission’s Chairman
The Kogi Women Concerned Group on Good Governance has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, citing allegations of gross incompetence.
This was made known by women during a joint press conference held on Saturday in Lokoja. The women accused the EFCC of unjustly persecuting the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and called for an end to what they described as a political witch-hunt.
In their separate remarks, Mrs Tukura Grace (Kogi East), Mrs. Memunat Salami (Central), and Comrade Oladunni Aisha (West), accompanied by women representatives from all 21 local government areas of the state, expressed their dissatisfaction with the EFCC’s actions. They stated that the agency’s recent decision to declare Bello wanted, despite his previous cooperation, was a clear sign of incompetence and political interference.
“It is unfortunate and alarming that the EFCC, under the leadership of Olanipekun Olukoyede, continues to target our former governor without concrete evidence,” Grace said. “Governor Yahaya Bello has demonstrated transparency, yet the agency remains determined to tarnish his image through media trials,”.
“We therefore make bold to say that the action of the EFCC is a clear indication that it is not really fighting corrupt practices as made to believe but carrying out an outright war against individuals perceived to be in its bad books for political reasons.
“We wonder why EFCC will fail to attend to the former Governor when he volunteered to surrender himself at the EFCC office accompanied by the incumbent Governor of Kogi state, Ododo”, Comrade Aisha noted.
The women emphasized the numerous achievements of Yahaya Bello during his eight-year tenure as governor, particularly in areas such as health, education, infrastructure, security, and women and youth empowerment. They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, warning that continued persecution of Bello could lead to protests by Kogi women, drawing comparisons to the historical Aba Women’s Riot of 1929.
“Kogi women will not stand by and watch our son be persecuted for political reasons. We are prepared to take drastic action, including public protests, if this witch-hunt does not stop,” Memunat warned.
In addition to demanding the resignation of the EFCC Chairman, the women’s group accused Olukoyede of corruption, claiming that he is unfit to lead the anti-graft agency. They called on President Tinubu to investigate the chairman’s actions and hold him and his alleged sponsors accountable.
The group also reaffirmed their support for the current Kogi State administration under Alhaji Usman Ododo, praising him for continuing the developmental strides initiated by Bello. They expressed confidence that his leadership would further propel the state towards progress.
The women concluded the press conference by urging the EFCC to stop its “political persecution” of Bello, insisting that no funds were misappropriated during his time in office. They reiterated their faith in President Tinubu’s leadership, particularly in addressing the economic challenges currently facing the nation.
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