Yahaya Bello: Stop Ododo from obstructing anti-corruption fight, group urges Tinubu

The Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to prevail on Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, to stop obstructing the fight against corruption.

In a statement issued in Abuja by VCR’s Head of Mission, Onche Ugbabe, the group expressed disapproval of the activities of one of the pro-Yahaya Bello groups, known as Africa Media Roundtable, which stated that Governor Ododo “should be celebrated.”

The statement read in part, “We restate our position and demand that the Presidency, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Progressive Governors’ Forum should intervene and save Nigeria from further embarrassment by calling Governor Ododo to order.

“The so-called Roundtable even insulted our collective intelligence by touting that Governor Ododo should be celebrated! Celebrated for his obstructive roles? Celebrated for housing a man already declared wanted by the EFCC based on summons issued by the court of law? That Ododo be celebrated for shielding a man from the arms of the law? For leading a show of bravado to the EFCC car park on September 18, 2024, in a flagrant display of what an executive governor should not be.”

The non-governmental organisation restated its earlier position that the protection so far given to the former governor by Ododo “undermines the renewed fight against corruption by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has made the President and the country a laughing stock.”

“That is why we are calling on the President, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Progressive Governors’ Forum to intervene and call Governor Ododo to order.”

With the issuance of another court summons last week by another court, VCR urged Ododo to accompany his predecessor to honour the court summons, since the Media Roundtable said Ododo was “helping EFCC” by accompanying former Governor Bello to the EFCC car park.