By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Concerned Nigerian youths under the aegis of Nigerian Youths For Equity and Justice Forum (NYEJF) have decried the allegations by a faceless Northern group, All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Forum (APC – YLF), alleging the Managing Director (MD) of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, as being a stooge of the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
In a social media report by the group, Bello – Kolo, was alleged to have perpetrated wholesale fraud under the protective cover of Amaechi, and urged President Bola Tinubu to sack him.
The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Aminu Usman, accused Bello – Koko, of having escaped prosecution by the anti – graft agency – EFCC through the instrumtality of Amaechi.
But the NYJEF, debunked and dismissed the wild allegations as borne out of envy, blackmail and clear evil intentions aimed at putting Anaech’is records as one of the best performing ministers in the immediate past former President Muhamadu Buhari’s cabinet in bad light.
In a communique made available to Correspondents in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital after their emergency meeting, the Chairman of the forum, Ibrahim Yusuf – Ahmed and secretary, Sambo Idris, described the allegations as “a mere conjecture by idle political jobbers to make some capital gains using the names of Bello – Koko and Amaechi.”
The group recalled that Mohammed Bello – Koko, who had previously served in former President Muhamadu Buhari’s government as Executive Director of Finance and Adminstration and acting MD, was later affirmed the substantive MD by President Buhari. Subsequently Bello-Koko was also left as MD in the present Adminstration of President Bola Tinubu after other board members were relieved of their appointments.
Under him, the group noted that the MD had brought a lot of innovations in the running and management of the NPA in line with the global best practices, thereby enhancing the ease of doing business in the maritime sub sector of the country’s economy.
According to them, it was based on his track record as a technocrat well versed with years of experience as a public service administrator the endeared him to Mr. President to be enlisted as one of the arrowheads in the federal government vision of implementing the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
The group, therefore, wondered why such passionate leader with vast experience in public service including in the banking sector, should be labeled as a saboteur.
Part of the communique read: “The threat and Accusations on the MD of Nigeria Port Authority NPA Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko. as being the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Anaech’s stooge is unfounded, I’ll – informed and seriously orchestrated ploy to tarnish the image of the former Minister of Transportation, who had served the nation with dillegence, patriotism and left meritoriously.
“The former Minister has meritoriously served Nigeria as Minister of Transportation and won several awards to his credit as the best performing Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during Buhari administration.
“He left an indelible marks in his transformational drive to reposition the transportation sector, which his successor is currently consolidating and building on the roadmap for the socio-economic development of the country.
“Therefore, as a patriotic Nigerian, he has paid his dues by sustaining the development paradigm of the country with all amount of passion, and should be well applauded as a statesman, rather than being vilified for sacreficing for his country.
“For those who are calling the MD Mohammed Bello- koko’s name, they are only envious of the changes he has put in place since he was appointed as Executive Director of Finance and Administration, and his later appointment as MD in acting capacity and subsequent affirmation as the substantive MD.
“Bello – Koko, is eminently qualified and. merited the position he’s occupying today having worked in the banking sector in Nigeria in different high -ranking positions.”
The communique, therefore, advised those casting aspersions on leaders to channel their energy and resources into the rebuilding process of the ruling APC at the centre in order to strengthen and reposition it effectively to continue to hold its position as the envy of other opposition political parties in the country.
