Last week, a funny news report that should bother all men and women of goodwill surfaced on social media, insulting our sensibilities.
The Kogi State House of Assembly was reported to have attacked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for performing its constitutional duties.
The lawmakers, who had been silent since the scandalous corruption allegations against the former governor, Yahaya Bello broke, suddenly found their voices, and instead of intervening on the side of decency, rule of law, and justice, went off track, dancing naked in the market square.
For people who swore to an oath of office and allegiance to the constitution and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to defend the interest of the people of Kogi State, it was an antithesis of some sort to see them calling for the sack of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
They hinged their shameful, ill-informed call on what they termed the invasion of the Kogi State governor’s lodge and an unfounded assassination attempt on the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello.
This action has added to the shameful theatrics coming from Kogi State since EFCC invited Yahaya Bello for questioning over an alleged N80 billion fraud.
Hardly had the dust raised by the N80 billion fraud settled when news broke again that a fresh court summons had been issued over another N110 million fraud against the same Yahaya Bello.
Now, imagine, if true, the number of healthcare centres, streets, and roads that would have been fixed with over N190 billion!
One would have thought that since Kogi State has been in the news for the wrong reasons on account of the refusal of Yahaya Bello to honour EFCC’s invitation and several court summons, the lawmakers would have urged him to save the state the bad press and needless embarrassment and turn himself in.
In saner climes, the lawmakers would have waded in on the side of decency, accountability, equity, and justice, after all, it is said that he who seeks equity must come with clean hands.
The lawmakers should tell Yahaya Bello and Governor Usman Ododo to obey the several court summons; after all, action and reaction are said to be equal and opposite.
If Yahaya Bello has nothing to hide, he should be more than willing to have his day in court and clear himself and his name once and for all.
It is incumbent on the lawmakers and Governor Ododo to COMPEL Bello to turn himself in without further delay.
It is equally very shameful that Governor Ododo is lending the weight and paraphernalia of his office and position to frustrate the institutions of state from doing their constitutionally guaranteed roles.
The lawmakers should look inwards, retrace their steps, and prevail on ex-governor Bello to be man enough to turn himself in, obey the court summons, and have his day in court. This is the only way the Kogi State House of Assembly can redeem itself from the joke that it has become.
By Dave Oludare Oso
