‘My Rumoured Strained Relationship With Tinubu Is False’, Says Ex-Kogi Governor Bello

The immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has distanced himself from a viral video by one Joy Sadiq, suggesting a strained relationship between him and President Ahmed Tinubu.

Bello described the insinuation in the video as inaccurate, misleading, malicious and non-reflective of reality.

In a statement personally signed by the former Governor and made available to LEADERSHIP in Lokoja on Sunday, Bello said he has no association with the said content creator beyond that she sometimes claimed what he described as dubious allegiance to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kogi State.

He therefore called on the public and the media to treat Sadiq’s statements as uninformed and unconnected to him, saying it was motivated by malice to sour his personal and political partnerships with the dignitaries mentioned.

“My attention has been drawn to specific online comments and videos recently circulated by one Joy Sadiq, who goes by the handles @realmamakogi and @realmamakogi2 on Facebook and TikTok, respectively, in which she makes a series of unfounded allegations concerning my relationship with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“For clarity and in the public interest, I wish to state in vehement and unmistakable terms that I have no association with this individual beyond the fact that she can sometimes be found within the ranks of those who claim dubious allegiance to our great party, the APC, in Kogi State.

The said individual, her statements and her activities in this and at least one other instance in which she has attacked prominent Nigerians with whom I have cordial relationships and common interests, purportedly in my support, are thoroughly denounced.

“The claims she has advanced, particularly those suggesting betrayal, exclusion from government or actions involving political, financial or security authorities, are inaccurate, misleading and not reflective of any reality known to me.

“She does not speak for me, has never represented me, much less any government or entity under my leadership or control and her assertions are made entirely on her own accord.

“My relationship with our leader and father, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains strong, grounded in respect, understanding and shared commitment to our collective Political goals,” Bello said.

He added that he remains utterly and totally sold-out to the re-election of Tinubu for a second term in 2027, “and reject any attempt to mischaracterise the relationship I enjoy with His Excellency, directly or through needless speculation, by anyone and from any quarter.”

Meanwhile, Kogi State governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has reportedly ordered the arrest of Sadiq, popularly known as Real Mama Kogi, over the viral video.

A reliable source confided in our reporter that Real Mama Kogi was currently giving vital information to security agents to unravel the source of her content.