The All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Vanguard has warned a former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to stop disgracing the party over his running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement on Sunday by the Coordinator of APC Youth Vanguard, Mr. Rasheed Sanusi, the group wondered why the former governor “has been evading justice and bringing the party into disrepute”.
It urged Bello to toe the path of honour and turn himself in to account for his time and tenure in office and safe the party and the presidency from further embarrassment, especially in view of the recent arrest of former governors of the opposition party, the People Democratic Party by the EFCC.
The group said: “Bello’s consistent disobedience of court summons and forum shopping are now being misinterpreted as a result of protection by the Presidency, being a member of the APC and having played a role in the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
“The helplessness explained recently by the presidential spokesman in a television interview is neither helpful nor acceptable.
“Orji Uzor Kalu was quoted as saying ‘I had a case with the EFCC. I appeared in all court proceedings for 12 years, I never ran away and I never missed any court sitting. I am not the kind of person that will dodge court sittings.
“Ex-Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has also been arrested by EFCC to account for his actions and activities while in office and has since been released on bail.
“Only last week, ex-Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa was arrested and released on administrative bail.
“Also, the outgoing Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has declared his readiness to answer EFCC’s invitation, if invited.
“So, why is Yahaya Bello shunning court summons? Who are those in the Presidency allegedly protecting Bello? This seeming state of helplessness is embarrassing to our party, the Presidency and the country as a whole. It is a global shame. We urge Bello to voluntarily appear for arraignment at the courts or be forced to do so by inter-agency cooperation. Enough is enough”!
