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The Running Bello By Nze James Chinonyerem

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Bello Yahaya, the ebullient but raw mannered former governor of Kogi state is on the run. He is running (away) to avoid being arrested or even questioned or being put on trial over his stewardship as the governor of his state. Bello is a typical street urchin in the Nigerian fashion. “Vumm is better than statement,” a local cliche says. This means, running away from the law is better than being caught by the law when you have committed an offence. So, Bello runs away. Bob Marley’s lyrics should have guided him, “Running away,” Marley sang, “running away, but you can’t hide” So Bello running away does not mean he can hide, even as he hiding.

He was aware of his date with the law. He was said to have dipped his hands too deeply into his state’s patrimonial jar of oil and his hands drip of it. He had his fingers and hands soiled when he was entrusted to use them to sow good seeds that will germinate greatness for Kogi state and her people. Bello lived happily and savoured the lures of his office. He personalized the seat and was vaulting in the exercises of the powers. He was said to have been a dictator in a democracy, muzzling everyone and anyone who dared challenge him. He was a man under the law, who wanted to be the law. He operated like the law himself. Dreadful Bello, is now, a run away Bello. A stowaway. How are the mighty fallen, intoned David.

Bello made his running plans. He backed his own political horse, he betted on it, he worked for the victory by insisting on it. His horse, became his successor. His successor, His Excellency, Dodo became his man Friday, his hatchet man. They knew their plans. They wrote the scripts together. They are acting it. Wike would boil with envy. Poor him. Fubara can’t play a Dodo even when two of them looked the same, deceitfully meek.

Kogi state is turned into a huge theatre of absurd. The EFCC, came calling with litany of questions. The commission said it has evidence that Bello took what he was not supposed to take. He overtook many of his former colleagues in the taking sprees. N80 billion naira in sundry takings? He must come and explain how and why the financial roofs under him leaked so loosely and badly the anti graft body mouthed. EFCC wants to ask him for reasons for the leaks. Bello doesn’t want to be asked. Maybe, to him, with him and for him, government money spent in government house is not accountable. He might have been inspired by his kindred spirit governor before, the comical former governor of Kano state, late Barkin Zuwo.

Recall, he had it planned like I said earlier. To prove his loyalty, he had him, his successor, Gov Ododo together with his wife, prostrate before him immediately after Ododo’s inauguration. EFCC did not pick the imports of that theatrics. Gov Ododo must play the yeoman’s game for his master. He must protect him from all aggressions and transgressions from the enemies, within or outside, real or imagined. Though Gov Dodo apparently sworn to protect the constitution little did anyone know that his constitution was the mighty Bello who made it possible for him and protections he must offer him against the nation’s constitution.

Bello Yahaya is a disgrace to the exalted office of the governor. His conducts while in office showed it. His conduct out of office confirmed it. He has fouled the excellency prefixed to his name and he is today as naked and bare as a common felon.

I thank the presidency for insisting on the course of law on this. This is not politics and Bello should not be allowed to ridicule our laws. He should be smoked out from wherever hole he is hiding and made to face the law. Let his trial be accelerated and justice served. Let the same speed of light in Bobrisky’s trial be lit in Bello’s trial.

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Buhari: Nigerians mourn as ex-president set for burial in Daura

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It was a tearful moment for Nigerians on Sunday following the announcement of the unfortunate death of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Ekwutosblog reports that President Bola Tinubu’s media aide Bayo Onanuga, who announced the sad development on Sunday evening, disclosed that the former Nigerian leader died in London, United Kingdom after a brief illness.

Although Buhari’s family failed to reveal the cause of his unfortunate demise, there are reports indicating that the former president battled blood cancer, leukemia, before he bowed.

 

The media has since been flooded with eulogies as leaders across the world and Nigerian politicians from both the ruling and the opposition parties continue to rain tribute for the foremost elder statesman.

Some socio-political organizations, including Afenifere and Arewa Youths in an exclusive chat with Ekwutosblog on Sunday, expressed utmost sadness over his death.

Buhari left legacies that cannot be forgotten easily – Afenifere

 

In a chat with Ekwutosblog, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi expressed condolences.

According to Ajayi, the former president left legacies that cannot be forgotten easily.

“Among the things for which people will continue to remember him was how the administration he led, with the support of late General Tunde Idiagbon, made it known that Nigerians can lead a disciplined life.

 

“Unfortunately, the spirit of discipline his administration instilled in Nigerians was not sustained by successive administrations.

“Also, the noble image that his government as military Head of State would have earned was stained by some of the draconian steps that the administration took, including scant regard for human rights,” he said.

Ajayi added that Buhari’s second coming when he served as civilian President between 2015 and 2023 sort of demystified the public image he had as a ‘no-nonsense man’.

He noted that there is “one important lesson in his conduct towards winning the election that brought him in as President.

“This was the ‘never-say-die’ spirit that he demonstrated. After previous attempts that failed, some faint-hearted people would have given up, but he did not.

“The lesson here is that anyone pursuing a noble goal should not give up even if the initial attempts did not bear the desired result,” he added.

Ajayi stated that although his eight-year tenure as civilian president can be described as a ‘mix-grill’, “the man certainly did his best, given the challenges that he had.

Afenifere commiserated with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Buhari’s immediate family and the country “over the death of a man who had the fortune of leading the country first as a military head of state and as a civilian president. May the Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljonnah Firdaos”.

Buhari’s death marks end of an era in Nigerian politics – Arewa Youths

On his part, Yerima Shettima, President General, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF told Ekwutosblog hat the passing of Buhari “marks the end of an era in Nigerian politics, and we take this moment to reflect on his life, legacy, and the profound impact he had on our nation.

Shettima described the sad incident as “immeasurable”, stating that the organization stands with the family of the former president “in this time of grief”.

He called on all Nigerians to honour Buhari’s “memory by continuing to work towards the unity and progress of our beloved country.

“We call on all citizens to reflect on the lessons learned from President Buhari’s life and to strive for a Nigeria that embodies his vision of integrity, unity, and progress.

“Let us come together as a nation to ensure that his legacy lives on through our collective efforts to build a better future for all Nigerians,” he stated.

Buhari set for burial today in Daura

The former president, whose remains are being accompanied back to Nigeria by Vice president Kashim Shettima and other government officials, will be laid to rest on Monday (today) at his home town, Daura.

Recall that when Buhari vacated Aso Rock on May 29 following the completion of his second tenure, he moved to his hometown, Daura, where he was reportedly taking care of his cattle.

However, Buhari on February 25, 2025 relocated back to his Kaduna residence, a move some Nigerians attributed to the build up of 2027 general elections.

Shortly after his demise on Sunday, hundreds of Nigerians gathered at his residence in Kaduna to mourn and pay their last respects.

Former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, was said to be among the early visitors to the ex-president’s residence.

Security around the area has been reinforced as two military gun trucks were stationed at key points near the house, while armed soldiers patrolled the street.

Vehicular movement was restricted, and loitering around the narrow residential area was firmly discouraged by security operatives.

Our correspondent gathered that the situation was not different in Daura as security was beefed-up ahead of the burial.

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Meets Nkem Owoh At Things Fall Apart Festival 2025

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Renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and beloved Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, aka Osuofia, recently graced the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025 with their presence. The festival, held in Enugu, Nigeria, from June 29 to July 5, 2025, was a tribute to Chinua Achebe’s timeless classic, “Things Fall Apart”.

During the festival, Chimamanda Adichie delivered a keynote speech, where she invited Nkem Owoh to the stage, praising him as a “cultural icon” whose work has profoundly impacted Nigerians. She gushed, “This man is an icon for us. I’m his biggest fan,” as the audience erupted in applause. The duo shared a warm hug, and Nkem Owoh reciprocated with words of admiration for Chimamanda’s literary prowess.

Photo source: Instagram

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Ex-House of Reps member dragged to court for beating man who demanded accountability

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A business man, Mr Chinedu Anaukwu, has dragged a former member of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Chinedu Obidigwe, to court for beating him up for demanding accountability for his performance as lawmaker.

Obidigwe who represented Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, was said to have carried out the act in 2023, shortly before the general election.

According to the victim: “It was in 2023, just before the general election, I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe who was then recontesting to return to the House of Representatives.

“I told him it had been over three years that he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.

“His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness.”

When the matter came up on Tuesday at Otuocha High Court, Anambra East Local Government Area, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi, SAN, withdrew the charges against the second and fifth defendants in the matter, who were identified as aides of Obidigwe who participated in the assault.

While the second defendant is said to be already late, the fifth was said not to have been served with the processes.

Obi who spoke to journalists, said: “Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding it came to light that the second defendant is late and since you can’t sue a dead person, we had to withdraw against him.

“Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted the case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction.”

During the sitting, the principal defendant, Obidigwe, was represented by his lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Offoh.

The matter was later adjourned to November 18 for continuation pretrial before full hearing.

The plaintiff, Anaukwu, in his prayers, is asking for N200 million compensation for his ordeal, as well as the conviction of the former Rep.

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