By Uche Amunike
A group known as Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR) has tasked President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) to call on the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo to desist from frustrating the efforts being made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption in the country.
Speaking, through a statement issued by the group’s Head of Mission in Abuja, Onche Ugbabe, the group disapproved of the activities of one of the pro-Yahaya Bello’s groups known as Africa Media Roundtable, which requested that Governor Ododo Udoh ‘should be celebrated.’
Hear him: ‘We reset our position and demand that the Presidency, Nigeria Gvernors’ Forum and the Progressive Governors Forum should wade in and save Nigeria from further embarrassment by calling Governor Ododo to order.’
He further averred: ‘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 away 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 group maintained its earlier position that the protection given to the former governor, Yahaya Bello by the incumbent, 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.’
They therefore called on the president, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Progressives Governors Forum to wade into the matter and call Governor Ododo to order.
Another court summons was issued last week by a different court and the VCR urged Ododo to accompany former Governor Yahaya Bello to honor the summons since the Media Roundtable stated that Ododo was helping the EFCC by accompanying his predecessor to the EFCC car park.
In another light, another group known as the Center for Justice and Peace (CJP) has dissociated itself from a statement that claims that they called for the arrest of Yahaya Bello.
Speaking, during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Director-General of the center, Dr. Stephen Okparaibe denied authorizing the statement. He frowned at the attempt made by politicians to compromise the principles of the organization and described the individuals behind the statement as paid agents who are bent on causing confusion and bringing disregard to democratic institutions.
His words: ‘We are shocked that desperate politicians would sponsor criminals to impersonate our organization and release malicious statements.’
‘This blatant attempt to undermine our integrity and independence will not be tolerated. We are perturbed that some section of the media would grant audience to these unknown faces to impersonate and release a statement on behalf of the group.’
The group reaffirmed their independence and non-partisanship, while emphasizing their commitment to justice, peace and adherence to the rule of law.
Okparaibe further stated that the statement released by the imposters contradicts its core values because they will not call for the arrest of someone who voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC.
‘If the EFCC, which declared Mr. Bello wanted, had him for over four hours and refused to arrest and prosecute him, how could we?’, he asked.
They condemned the derogatory statements made against the judiciary and called on the relevant authorities to take action against the impostors for impersonation.
They also warned that the progress of the country would be hindered if individuals are allowed to masquerade as activists, causing confusion and disregarding democratic institutions.
The group is made up mostly of lawyers, who underscored their dedication to promoting Nigeria’s democratic values.
