2027: Onokpasa cautions APC over Yahaya Bello, EFCC feud, as TMSG inaugurates new excos
JOEL OLADELE, Abuja
The Chairman, Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG), Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa, has sent a strong warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), over its perceived stance on the ongoing issue between the immediate former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Onokpasa noted this in Abuja, at the inauguration ceremony of the new executive committee members of TMSG, on Tuesday.
Fielding questions from journalists, Onokpasa expressed concerns as Nigeria heads towards the next presidential election in 2027, saying APC needs to
remain united, particularly regarding Yahaya Bello and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The TMSG chairman added that as the party ambitiously sets its sights on the 2027 elections, the tensions surrounding key figures and institutions will likely shape the political landscape in the months and years ahead.
He highlighted the fragility of the APC’s current standing after winning the 2023 presidential election by “the narrowest margin in the history of the country.”
According to him; “APC as a party needs to be cautious over former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai because we still need them in 2027.”
The legal luminary further noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secured less than 40% of the total votes in 2023, emphasizing the need for the party to strengthen its base rather than alienate key members. “It will be dangerous for APC to go into 2027 divided,” he added.
On the issue of internal conflicts within the party, Onokpasa remarked, “We are a party, we are progressives, we are a team. Former Governor Yahaya Bello and current Governor Usman Ododo are part of that crew, If some people have some problems with them, that’s their business, as far as I’m concerned, they are my brothers,”
He vehemently rejected rumors of discord between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Yahaya Bello, describing it as unfounded.
“Somebody came to me one day and said it’s Asiwaju that is after Yahaya Bello and I told him that it is not for you to come and tell me that Asiwaju is after Yahaya Bello, you are tarnishing my President’s reputation, don’t say that about my President. It is my President to tell me that he’s after Yahaya Bello.
“Then he asked me if the President tells me he’s after Yahaya Bello, will I then support them to attack Yahaya Bello? I said don’t I have mouth? I will ask my President, why are you after your son? we are all the same, what is happening? So, that narrative is completely false.”
On the recent allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) targeting Bello, Onokpasa restated his support for the former governor, saying, “I mean it’s clear that these people don’t even want to harm Yahaya Bello, they want to kill him.” He recounted alarming instances of alleged misconduct from the EFCC, suggesting that their actions resembled those of a “criminal organization” rather than an entity dedicated to fighting corruption.
“Somebody come to you headquarters, in broad daylight, where everybody can see it, you refused to interrogate him not to talk of taking him into custody, you asked him to go home, then at night, you went to where you feel he is, then you tell him that see o come and help us to stage a home video. Let us stage a fake arrest, who does that?
“Then when he refuses, of course every decent reasonable citizen will refuse, has EFCC turned into a criminal organization? He refused, then you started shooting at him, trying to assassinate both a sitting governor and a former governor. I am very proud of my brother, former governor Yahaya Bello, I’m very proud of my brother, Governor Usman Ododo and I’m very ashamed of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC),” he said.
When probed about a recent faction attempting to overtake the TMSG, Onokpasa expressed confidence in his leadership.
“They started that shenanigan simply because I started defending former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Well, the funny thing is, I think I’m being vindicated and they are being disgraced. I’m a lawyer, I know what I’m doing, if you say somebody has committed a crime, stolen money, no problem, just show us your evidence but you cannot use that as a smokescreen.
“So I challenge anybody, any time, any day to disprove the fact that I’m the founder, I mean the creator of the Tinubu Media Support Group. The evidence is so easy to find. Just google Tinubu Media Support Group, then start checking the time stamps on the press releases by Tinubu Media Support Group and then look at the name that is there.
“I don’t know where these strange people came from but I am the founder of Tinubu Media Support Group, case closed. I and my illustrious team are Tinubu Media Support Group, the other people, only God knows what they are doing,” he affirmed.
The newly inaugurated Executive Committee Members are:
Barrister Jesutega Onokpasa, National Chairman, Hon. Pigo Hedliger, National Secretary, Hon. Baiye Sunday Aseda National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Sunday Oluwanifemi Okikiola, National Treasurer,
Hon. Joel Oladele, National Organizing Secretary.
