Being the text of a Press Conference delivered by North Central Youths For Good Governance today, 21th of December 2022.
INTRODUCTION
For those who don’t know us, The North Central Youths for Good Governance (NCYGG) is a socio-political pressure group whose sole aim and objective is for the safeguard of impactful governance within it’s area of influence, which is the six states making up the North Central geo-political zone.
Membership cuts across the states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja who forms part of the zone.
We as members achieve our objective through various ways which are advocacy by which we encourage mass participation of the people in the electioneering process.
We also make sure that officials of state are held liable and accountable to the people they govern. No only that, we also ensure that interests of individuals and collective aspirations our people are well protected at all times.
STATE OF THE REGION
It is worthy of note to state that our group has been observing for some time the melodrama between operatives of the Economic Financial and other Crimes Commission (EFCC) and officials of the Kogi State Government.
While we would like to state categorically, that as a responsible organisation, we would not like to be seen as a body impeding the work of a statutory organisation such as the EFCC, no!
However, I wish to state that we also reserve the rights as bona fide and law abiding citizens of Nigeria to observe the commission’s activities with a view to commend it when it is doing what is right and of course raise the alarm of we see that it is deviating from its core mandate of fighting corruption.
Appraising the activities of the EFCC with specific reference and focus to it’s work in Kogi State, we regret to announce to the whole world that the commission is doing a hatchet job for some shadowy groups.
Findings conducted by our group has revealed that some elements within and outside Kogi State have resolved to nail the Governor Yahaya Bello led administration using the EFCC as the tool.
Our position is based on what we see as relentless efforts and moves to rope the governor and some of his officials into corruption dungeon with a view to permanently consign them to political oblivion.
When is it an offence to run for the office of the president?
The latest of such macabre drama ensued recently when the commission raided the home of the younger brother to the governor, Mr. Ali Bello who alongside two others are currently being detained for almost a week by the commission.
The continued detention of Mr. Ali Bello is a fragrant abuse of his fundamental human rights to dignity and fair hearing because the constitution and other laws of the state that an accused should be charged to court within 24 hours after his arrest.
Of course the commission and it’s operatives know what they are doing. Since they can’t find or link him to any wrong doing, he has to be perpetually kept in the prison in lieu of his elder brother.
Our position is even further strengthen by a respected member of the bar, Chief Olisa Agbakoba who recently lampooned the EFCC of fostering gross impunity with the continued detention of Ali Bello by the commission.
Several bodies across the country have condemned EFCC on this unwarranted provocation against Kogi State.
We are confident of the fact that Alhaji Yahaya Bello is an impeccable character who has discharged his functions as the number one citizen of Kogi so we’ll and has since earned accolades from far and wide.
These commendations are actually at the root of the shenanigans of these elements who are scheming to bring down Bello for political reason and it will always fail.
Those purporting graft allegations against the governor should remember that the World Bank had recently lauded the governor for managing the affairs and resources of the state prudently.
Gov. Bello has completely changed the face of Kogi State. His healthcare system legacy is one of the best in the country,. In terms of Education, Road infrastructure, Security and good governance no governor come close to governor Bello.
GOING FORWARD
We are using this opportunity to appeal to the EFCC to release Ali Bello and the others detained along with him, failure of which our members have resolved to picket it’s offices across the country.
Signed
Akume B. Akaar