The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has strongly denied allegations that he threatened President Bola Tinubu, following a report from an online platform linking him to an attack on the president.
Through his media office director, Ohiare Michael, Bello condemned the report as “senseless” and “mischievous,” warning that legal action would be taken against the outlet responsible.
The statement from Bello’s office specifically targeted the website Daily Excessive, which published the false claims.
The report, according to the statement, attributed fabricated quotes to Bello, suggesting he would reveal how Tinubu became president.
Bello’s media team dismissed the report, stating, “Ordinarily, we would not have even bothered to give this any attention, because no informed Nigerian would take such a ridiculous story, written by a sick mind, seriously, especially since court records are public documents.”
The former governor further explained that the story was part of a political plot aimed at creating a rift between him and the president.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a not only mischievous but senseless report published by a mushroom blog called Daily Excessive, which attributed fake quotes against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to our principal, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
“Ordinarily, we would not have even bothered to give this any attention, because no informed Nigerian would take such a ridiculous story, written by a sick mind, seriously, especially since court records are public documents.
“This clarification is, however, necessary for the record and for the benefit of social media users who circulate fake news without fact-checking the details.”
Addressing the false report, Bello’s office added that the story’s spread is indicative of a larger problem with the dissemination of fake news.
“The Media Office of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, hereby states that the report in circulation by one Daily Excessive blog, which quoted the former governor to have said that he would reveal to the world how President Tinubu became President is not only misleading but also a confirmation of how unintelligent some unrelenting detractors of the former governor are.
“Every Nigerian following court proceedings, since the former governor submitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, knows that trial has not commenced in any of the cases. Former Governor Bello has only taken his plea at both courts.
“The court is an open place where journalists and other stakeholders monitor proceedings. This is the reason no informed Nigerian would even consider opening this sick report by an ‘Excessive fake news purveyor’ called Daily Excessive. But a ‘conquered’ mind is a sick mind, so we understand the plight of these mischief makers,” the statement added.
