A renowned activist, politician and social commentator of Kogi extraction, comrade Austin Usman Okai has reacted to the news involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and Yahaya Bello-led administration in Kogi State where it was confirmed that the money meant to offset workers’ salary was seized and returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, by the appropriate authority.
Speaking after the pronouncement by the EFCC, the political activist was quoted as saying, “the EFCC has vindicated us. I have always maintained that Yahaya Bello’s financial activities in the State is synonymous, if not worse than Yahoo Yahoo Cartel.”
Recall that the EFCC had on Friday, in a press statement, announced that the CBN had acknowledged the receipt of the sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 (Nineteen Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Naira, Thirty-six Kobo) recovered by the EFCC from the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc.
Reacting, Okai said, “this development has exposed the wickedness and ineptitude of Yahaya Bello towards the civil servants and the entire population of the State.
“The action of EFCC has vindicated my consistent beliefs on how the state resources are being squandered by the Yahaya Bello led administration,” adding that the Governor should be preparing for his days in court after the expiration of his immunity clause in 2023.
“Yahaya Bello has refused to spare a moment of thought for civil servants who have done everything humanly possible to remain peaceful amidst despicable working conditions, it’s unfortunate that Salaries of civil servants are kept away to foster his unrealistic Presidential bid.
“Very many of us have been battered, shattered & humiliated by security operatives who were desperate to silence us at all cost and to create a conducive environment for the looting of the state treasury.
“This poses serious threats on our lives, yet, we resolve to stand and defend what is right without considering “whose ox is gored”.
“As we speak, I’m still standing trial for speaking out against the massive looting of the state resources, so many of us are still under death threat for speaking out against the abuse of governance in the state, these we do because we believe in what Kogi State can be,” he added.
The activist, therefore, tasked the EFCC to dig deeper, as he alleged that the Paris Club Refunds, statutory allocations and other borrowings were being squandered on Yahaya Bello’s expensive lifestyle and presidential ambition.
