By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
A political pressure group has launched a strong attack on former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, alleging that his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not a Sallah homage as widely reported, but a politically charged intervention over escalating tensions in Kogi State.
The group, through its chairman David Emmanuel, insisted that Bello was specifically invited by the President and firmly cautioned over alleged behind-the-scenes political maneuvering in the state.
According to Emmanuel, the meeting reportedly took a decisive tone, with the President warning against any form of political imposition or interference in the senatorial arrangements of Kogi East and Kogi West.
He alleged that the Presidency made it clear that the party structure recognizes Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho for Kogi East and Senator Sunday Steve Karimi for Kogi West, warning that any attempt to destabilize that arrangement would not be tolerated.
âThe narrative being pushed that it was a Sallah homage is completely misleading. Yahaya Bello was summoned, not celebrated. He was told in clear terms to steer clear of Kogi politics and stop any attempt to impose candidates or destabilize the existing political order,â Emmanuel claimed.
The group further accused certain political actors of deliberately fueling confusion within the APC in Kogi State, describing the alleged power struggle as reckless and capable of undermining party unity ahead of future elections.
Emmanuel alleged that the President expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing political tension in the state and emphasized that elected representatives must be allowed to function without external interference from powerful political interests.
He further claimed that the warning served as a direct message to political actors attempting to operate parallel structures or override the will of party stakeholders.
âThis is a clear signal that the era of political godfatherism and imposition is being resisted at the highest level. The President is not interested in factional politics that destabilize the party,â he stated.
The group also described the development as a major political setback for those allegedly seeking to reposition themselves through backdoor influence, insisting that such strategies would no longer be tolerated within the ruling party.
It urged party supporters in Kogi East and West to remain vigilant and resist what it termed âpolitical manipulation and engineered division,â calling instead for unity behind the existing senatorial leadership.
As of press time, neither the Presidency nor Yahaya Bello has issued any official response to the allegations.
The claims continue to generate political debate within APC circles in Kogi State, where internal tensions and succession positioning remain highly sensitive.
