The African Transparency Initiative (ATI) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) national reconciliation committee.
The ATI described the move as a grave assault on integrity, accountability, and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Taiwo Omoniyi Otitolaye, ATI said the appointment represents a monumental setback for governance and sends a dangerous signal that allegations of corruption, illegal mining, and terrorism sponsorship no longer matter in Nigeria’s corridors of power.
ATI accused President Tinubu of providing what it termed presidential cover for Yahaya Bello, whom it described as facing serious allegations that should disqualify him from any public or party role.
“With this appointment, Tinubu has effectively provided presidential cover for an alleged terrorist sponsor and backing for Bello’s illegal mining activities. ATI views this move as a proactive demonstration to the international community that Tinubu’s government has 100% tolerance for corruption, illegal mining, and terrorism,” the statement said.
The group warned that the decision undermines public trust and further erodes Nigeria’s already battered international image.
ATI listed what it called Bello’s “dirty record,” noting that the former governor is currently facing trial over the alleged diversion of more than ₦80 billion in Kogi State funds during his eight years in office.
The organisation also referenced allegations of political violence during Bello’s tenure, including the killing of opposition figures, and pointed to his alleged links with controversial cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, whose engagements with armed groups have sparked national outrage in the past.
“He is known to have sponsored political killings as a sitting governor, including the brutal murder of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) women leader who was set ablaze and burnt to death in her home.
“Bello’s connections to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a known ally of terrorists in Nigeria, are a matter of public record.”
ATI said Bello’s appointment raises troubling questions about President Tinubu’s priorities and moral compass.
According to the group, “Is Bello the type of character Tinubu prefers in a reconciliation committee?
“Is he telling the international community that corruption, illegal mining, and terrorism allegations are irrelevant? Must Tinubu sacrifice integrity for his 2027 presidential ambition?
“The people of Kogi State, who suffered under Bello’s brutal rule, are watching Tinubu’s dangerous dance steps with trepidation.”
According to ATI, the people of Kogi State, who endured what it described as a brutal and despotic administration, are watching the development with fear and anger.
The anti-corruption group further argued that appointing Bello to a sensitive party committee undermines the work of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“How can the President of Nigeria appoint a corrupt fugitive, accused of stealing N80 billion, to a reconciliation committee?, ” ATI asked, describing the move as “a gangrenous sore” on Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
ATI also linked the security challenges and illegal mining activities in parts of Kogi State to alleged alliances involving Bello, referencing Sheikh Gumi’s 2021 visit to Kogi West Senatorial Districts, where he publicly praised the former governor.
According to ATI, that visit foreshadowed an influx of armed groups and illegal miners into the area, worsening insecurity and economic exploitation.
“Gumi’s visit to Kogi West Senatorial Districts in 2021, where he praised Bello, was a harbinger of the terrorism and illegal mining that has ravaged the area. ATI links Gumi’s visit to Bello’s plan for illegal gold mining and the influx of terrorists fleeing military attacks in the North West.”
ATI called for the immediate removal of Yahaya Bello from the APC reconciliation committee and urged law enforcement agencies to pursue all allegations against him without political interference.
“Nigeria deserves better than leaders who place power above principle and impunity above justice,” the group added.
