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By Oscar Okhifo
When politicians facing corruption charges are treated as celebrities rather than pariahs, the message to Nigerians is clear: accountability is optional.
This troubling reality, underscored by Simon Kolawole’s reflections on the Yahaya Bello saga, as published on the Cable, exposes a deep inconsistency in Nigeria’s anti-corruption posture.
The concerns raised by the ace journalist reflect a serious worry shared by many Nigerians, voiced or hushed.
At the centre of the debate is a disturbing contradiction: can those who speak loudly about anti-corruption credibly be seen hobnobbing with individuals already indicted by investigative agencies?
Kolawole recalls his disbelief when President Bola Tinubu sent an extravagant birthday message to former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, at a time the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invested enormous time and resources investigating him. He is already in the dock.
This means there are prima facie evidences already established.
To many Nigerians, such gestures hardly inspire confidence in a government that claims commitment to accountability and transparency.
The EFCC had determined that Bello had a case to answer and invited him for questioning. For a long period, he reportedly refused to honour the invitation, carrying on as though untouched by the weight of the allegations. He was eventually declared wanted and later charged to court over alleged fraud involving sums reportedly exceeding ₦200 billion.
Yet, even as these legal issues lingered, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which ousted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 on the promise of fighting corruption, appointed Bello into a high-powered party committee. Today, he is frequently in the public space, speaking confidently and even hinting at a possible Senate ambition.
This development raises a broader moral and institutional question.
Even if indicted persons are not yet proven guilty in a court of law, is it right for political leaders and institutions to openly patronize, celebrate, or empower them? Such conduct sends troubling signals to the public and undermines confidence in institutions like the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other investigative agencies.
It becomes a fly in the ointment of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, weakening deterrence and reinforcing the perception that there are sacred cows in the system.
If the anti-corruption campaign is to command any credibility, those facing serious indictments must be treated with restraint and kept at a respectful distance from power until the courts clear their names. Anything short of this only fuels public cynicism, weakens deterrence, and corrodes trust in governance.
Nigerians deserve leadership that practices what it preaches. It is time for the ruling class to align conduct with rhetoric and act with the seriousness their offices demand.