Lugard House Lokoja: From Den Of The “White Lion” To Den For Criminals

By

Yinka Adaranijo

In our democracy history, there has never been a time an ex governor approved all expenses and sharing of looted public funds openly, as it is the case with Kogi State, currently. And these nefarious activities have continued unabated, right inside the Lugard House, whilst the fleeing ex-governor evaded the handcuffs of anti-graft departments to seek sanctuary under the misused immunity of his successor, Usman Ododo.

Recall that Ododo, sometimes after his elections last year, in a viral video had shocked the world when he said that if he gives a directive and the ex-governor gives a directive, his own (Ododo’s directive) should be ignored.

The fact that ex-Governor Yahaya Bello has been indicted alongside the Chief of Staff to Governor Ododo, Ali Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in financial mal-practices involving over N80bn and him Bello recently declared wanted, a warrant of arrest issued and placed on the watchlist of thenation’s immigration service, one would wonder what point is a sitting Governor trying to prove by housing him in the state Government House.

Bello allegedly has been camped there now for over two weeks. This audacious action of Governor Ododo needs to be reprimanded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the federal government so as not to set a bad precedence for other governors to emulate.

By law, Bello is a wanted criminal, now a fugitive, and having such a character in the government house poses a threat to the safety of all law abiding residents of Lokoja, the state capital and environs. Many of the residents live in atmosphere of fear while others are awaiting the disaster that looms.

It is also of note that when Mr Bello was under siege in his in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja residence by the EFCC operatives who arrived there around 9:00 am that fateful day, 3 hours later (about 11:00 am), after he must have put a call across to Ododo, the state Governor, Governor Ododo came to rescue him in the company of the Police, DSS and hired thugs. The thugs chanted anti-FG slogans such as “Shame to EFCC”, “Shame on Ribadu”,
“Shame on Gbajabiamila”.

Federal Security agencies should immediately investigate the fresh whistleblowers allegations that these three groups – the police, the DSS and thugs are in government House Lokoja with marabouts and magicians consulting for the ex-Governor.

With these embarrassing scenarios, how would the citizens have confidence in the nation’s security agencies who are working hand in hand with thugs claiming to be safeguarding the ex-Governor.

Federal Government as a matter of urgency ought to come to the aid of all Kogi citizens and put a stop to these unfortunate incidents so that the people will know that their hopes are truly renewed in this government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

For the umpteenth time, the federal government must act to the effect that following the use of the governor’s motorcade to ferry away the embattled Yahaya Bello, Ododo’s action amounted to harbouring of a fugitive, obstruction of justice, and the misuse of state resources. In the words of human rights lawyer, Deji Ajare, this infectious action of Ododo’s and the inherent potential breaches of statutory duties imposed by the Constitution and other relevant laws of the country, poses a threat to our democracy, if such precedence is allowed.

•Yinka Adaranijo, a public affairs analyst writes from Kaduna