It appears all may not be exactly well in the household of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. The 47-year-old who is married to three wives took to his social media account on Valentine’s Day to express his die-hard love to his first wife, Amina Oyiza, a lawyer and the founder of Hayat Foundation. He posted a video of himself and Amina which was a collage of their pictures together, right from their dating days through to his days as an accountant, a businessman, when he decided to join politics and as governor of the confluence state. He added love notes to her in the video, some of which read, “You know just how to make me smile with the little things you do. And I keep finding reasons to fall more in love with you.”
Another note read, “Here is to me and you, here is to all the love and laughter and just how very happily we are sharing ever after.”
The governor, whose favourite pastime is boxing, totally ignored his second wife, Rashidat, who is the official first lady and his third wife, Hafiza, prompting many to wonder if all was well and why he only chose to single out only Amina to serenade on lover’s day.
Governor Bello’s actions towards Rashidat may perhaps not be totally unconnected to their constant bickering over the years. In 2021, she was rumoured to have moved out of the Government House because of a misunderstanding with her husband. He debunked the story insisting that all was well with his family.
Although Rashidat remained in Government House, the rumour about a crack in their relationship would not go away. A few weeks ago, she allegedly got involved in a N3 billion money laundering scam. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged her, the governor’s nephew, Ali Bello and three others, on an 18-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering.
All through the period the accused persons appeared in court, got remanded, up until they were granted bail, Rashidat never showed up in person and that is because immediately she got wind of the investigation, long before she was charged, she disappeared into the thin air and remains at large till date.
The fraud was allegedly perpetuated in 2020. Sources reveal to THEWILL that Bello is unhappy with her about this development. With his third wife, Bello seems indifferent, and this is evident in how he deliberately doesn’t get her involved in anything and publicly regards her.
Once while receiving an award of honour from the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) and Global Gold Consult as ‘The most gender sensitive governor in Nigeria,’ Bello thanked Amina and Rasheedat for their support but refused to mention his third wife’s name nor thank her.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
