Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has denied rumors that he and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are at odds, stating that their relationship is still strong and based on respect for one another.
Bello reportedly revealed this in a statement on Sunday in response to a video that went viral on Facebook and TikTok and was shared by a content provider.
The former governor characterized his relationship with the president and head of the All Progressives Congress as friendly, steady, and based on common political goals.
Bello distanced himself from the remarks made in the widely shared video, emphasizing that he and any government he led had nothing to do with the person who created it.
“My attention has been drawn to certain online comments and videos recently circulated by one JOY SADIQ, who goes by the handles @realmamakogi and @realmamakogi2 on Facebook and TikTok, respectively, in which she makes a series of unfounded allegations concerning my relationship with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the statement says.
“For the sake of clarity and the public interest, I would like to make it clear that I have no affiliation with this person other than the fact that she occasionally belongs to the group of people in Kogi State who claim questionable loyalty to our wonderful party, the APC.”
“I vehemently condemn the aforementioned person, her remarks, and her actions in this and at least one other incident when she has insulted well-known Nigerians with whom I have friendly relationships and shared interests, ostensibly on my behalf.
“The accusations she has made are false, deceptive, and not representative of any reality I am aware of, especially those that imply treachery, exclusion from government, or activities involving political, financial, or security agencies.
She has never represented me, much less any government or organization under my direction or authority, and she makes all of her claims on her own initiative.
“My connection with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, our father and leader, is still solid and based on mutual respect, understanding, and dedication to our common political objectives.
“I continue to be fully committed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, being re-elected for a second term in 2027, and I reject any attempt by anyone or from any source to misrepresent my connection with His Excellency, either directly or through unnecessary conjecture.
As a result, I urge the public and the media to take the aforementioned Joy Sadiq’s remarks as ignorant and unrelated to me, motivated by a desire to damage my political and personal relationships with the aforementioned dignitaries, and to avoid giving such information any weight.
“For the record, all of my authorized communications are properly disseminated on my official channels and national media platforms only after I have given my approval.”
