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Oct
Oct
FORMER KOGI GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO SPARKS OUTRAGE WITH OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD USAGE AFTER LEAVING OFFICE
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CapitalTimesNews / 3 months
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- 2 min read
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has come under intense public scrutiny and criticism after posting and subsequently deleting a congratulatory letter addressed to the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu. The letter was written on an official Kogi State Government letterhead, complete with the state coat of arms and Bello’s signature identifying him as “Executive Governor,” despite him no longer holding the office. This action ignited a wave of outrage online, with many accusing the former governor of inappropriately clinging to power and blurring the lines between his personal identity and public office. In the controversial letter, Bello extended congratulations to the Army Chief but included a remark that quickly drew attention from observers. He wrote, “It gives me renewed hope that my worthy successor, His Excellency Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, will now have you in his corner as he continues to tackle insecurity in his domain.” Critics highlighted that this statement was problematic, as it implied the Army Chief could be positioned in a governor’s “corner,” potentially distorting the military’s federal command structure and raising concerns about undue influence. The civic-accountability platform Kogi Xcommunity first brought the issue to light, stating, “Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State big, has deleted his personally signed letter to the new Chief of Army Staff after facing backlash from netizens.” The deletion followed a swift and negative reaction from the public, who condemned the use of official insignia for personal correspondence after Bello’s tenure had ended. The incident has fueled broader discussions about ethical conduct and the transition of power for former public officials.