By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
The Disability Community in Kogi State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop the further harassment of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
This follows the recent siege on the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in Abuja by the operatives of the anti-graft agency in a bid to arrest the former Governor of Kogi State, over corruption allegations.
The spokesperson of the group, Comrade Arome Daniel Ibrahim, made the call in a statement in Lokoja on Wednesday, to lend the voice of the disability community to the clarion call for a peaceful resolution of the impasse.
According to Arome, the call on the EFCC to stop the alleged harassment of former Governor Bello had become necessary, taking into account the life-touching impact of his administration on the lives of the PWDs and other citizens of Kogi.
“From all indications, the harassment of Yahaya Bello seems to be a planned attack by the enemies of Kogi state, and by implications, persons with disabilities in the state who relish the mildest touch of the former Governor with fond memories.
“Former Governor stands out as the first; the one and only Governor in the history of Kogi State who had appointed 10 PWDs into various political offices in addition to several appointments of PWDs as Supervisory Councillors at the local government level, thereby giving us we have ever had in the State.
Why Ex-Governor Bello Remains Political Idol of PWDS
According to the activist, the PWDs in the state have benefited greatly from the inclusive policies of the Bello administration to such an extent of wide political inclusion, and health insurance coverage, among other development initiatives that advanced the economic well-being of Kogians:
Yahaya Bello was the only Governor since the creation of Kogi State to sign a law protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
He established an Agency for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Kogi State, employed many persons with disabilities into the state civil service, and facilitated the pilgrimage for persons with disabilities to the Holy Land.
He empowered so many persons with disabilities in the area of skill acquisition, took some PWDs out of the country for medical surgeries, provided mobility aids to the PWDs in the state through the office of the first lady, and included PWDs in so many government activities in the State.
One hundred and two (102) persons with disabilities were empowered with two million, twenty-seven thousand naira (N2,027,000) each through the World Bank APPEALS project in Kogi State.
Arome added that “whoever touches the life of the less privileged, always wins the favour of God Almighty as Bello had demonstrated uncommon love for PWDs in the state, with a deep sense of political commitment to emphatic leadership.
“It’s on this note that we are asking the EFCC to stop harassing the true lovers of persons with disability in Kogi State and Nigeria.
“We equally use this medium to call on President Bola Ahmed TINUBU to call EFCC Boss to order and put a stop to the humiliation of our political icon of Kogi State,” PWDs pleads.
