The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has welcomed the ongoing investigation of Kogi State looted funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Director of New Media
Muri/Sam Campaign Council/SDP, Isaiah Davies Ijele, stated this in a statement on Friday evening.
In the statement titled RE: We vehemently reject surreptitious attempts by the EFCC to falsely tell the world Kogi state were stolen, the campaign council noted that the Kogi State Government should was not cooperating and supporting the EFCC and the ICPC in the fight against corruption in all its manifestations.
The spokesperson urged the state government to aid the commission in probing crimes instead of defending criminals.
The statement which did not identify the criminals expressed regret that “a government that should play a supportive role to the federal government in the fight against corruption is firmly standing in support of an individual being accused of endemic corruption.
According to the council, “We understand the political script the government wants to play in support of Yahaya Bello, however, going this way is showing to the world that the government of Kogi condones and defends corruption.
‘There is no need for the government to swing to the defense of Yahaya Bello if truly there are no missing funds and if truly he is free of these allegations. They should allow the anti-graft agency to do their job instead of running from pillar to post.
“If they are not guilty, what worries about the investigation?. Perhaps they should explain to the world the reason the government is talking on behalf of the said Bello and his partners in crime.
“It is important we remind the state government that the EFCC is an independent institution of the federal government that is saddled with the important responsibility of going after criminals, exposing fraud and arresting looters of public funds amongst other responsibilities.
“Instead of defending the accused, the government should advise Yahaya Bello to submit himself to the EFCC for proper investigation. From our end, it seems like the Kogi government is calling the EFCC a bad name without investigating the matter.”
The council has therefore, challenged the state government to identify the individuals around the presidency who they claimed were “bent on destroying the image of Alh. Yahaya Bello and Kogi State”.
“The Kogi state government is directly attacking the presidency and accusing the government of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu of harboring people not fit to be in government. The presidency must react to clear itself from this needles drama and allegations put forward by the Ododo led temporary government,” the council said.