By joshua
Leave Faleke Alone
By : Alao Rufus Teddy
There comes a point when silence ceases to be a virtue. That point has been reached.
The recent allegations made by Alfred Bello against Hon. James Abiodun Faleke are serious enough to demand more than political rhetoric—they demand proof. Public life is not a licence to make allegations at will. Anyone who chooses to accuse another of wrongdoing has a duty to present facts, not speculation.
Hon. James Abiodun Faleke has become an easy target whenever disagreements arise within the APC in Kogi West. Whenever factions disagree or interests collide, his name is casually dragged into the conversation, often without a shred of verifiable evidence. That pattern is unfair, irresponsible and harmful to the unity of the party.
If Alfred Bello possesses credible evidence that Hon. Faleke is responsible for the actions he has alleged, he should place that evidence before the public immediately. If he cannot, then he should withdraw the allegations. Public confidence is built on truth, not conjecture.
Political disagreements within the APC in Kogi West should be resolved through dialogue, consultation and the party’s established internal mechanisms—not through public accusations that risk damaging reputations without substantiation. Leaders, particularly those with long experience in public life, have a responsibility to exercise restraint and ensure that their public comments are grounded in fact.
We therefore call on Alfred Bello to retract any allegation against Hon. James Abiodun Faleke that he cannot support with credible evidence within twenty-four (24) hours of this publication.
Should no such evidence be forthcoming and no retraction be made, those whose reputations have been affected should consider every lawful avenue available to protect their good names. The law provides remedies where false statements are alleged to have caused reputational harm, and those remedies exist to uphold accountability in public discourse.
This is not an attempt to silence criticism. Hon. Faleke, like every public leader, is open to scrutiny. But scrutiny must be based on facts. Democracy is strengthened by robust debate, not by unsubstantiated allegations.
The APC in Kogi West deserves a politics anchored in integrity, responsibility and respect for the truth. Those who participate in public debate should remember that words have consequences, and that public trust is earned by accuracy and fairness—not by accusations unsupported by evidence.
If there is evidence, let it be produced. If there is none, then the attacks should cease.