Yahaya Bello under fire for using Kogi letterhead in personal communication to army chief

Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has come under intense public scrutiny following the circulation of a controversial congratulatory letter addressed to the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.

The letter, which was initially posted on social media and later deleted, bore the official Kogi State Government letterhead and Bello’s signature as “Executive Governor,” despite his exit from office. The use of official insignia by a private citizen has sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing the former governor of overstepping his bounds and clinging to power.

In the letter, Bello wrote: “It gives me renewed hope that my worthy successor, His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, will now have you in his corner as he continues to tackle insecurity in his domain.” The phrasing drew backlash from observers who argued that it implied the Army Chief could be aligned with a state governor, contrary to the military’s federal command structure.

Civic group @Kogi_Xcommunity was among the first to raise alarm, stating: “Despite no longer being in office, Bello continues to use the official Kogi State Governor’s letterhead bearing the state coat of arms — sparking concerns.” The post quickly gained traction online, prompting a wave of reactions.

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Social media users expressed outrage, with @EmmanuelO_K commenting: “Even after leaving office, Yahaya Bello still writes like a sitting governor. It’s embarrassing how some people just can’t let go of power.” Another user, @KogiWatchdog, described the act as “a breach of protocol,” adding that it reflected a mindset that views the state as personal property.

Public affairs analyst, Yusuf M.A., described the incident as “a case study in power hangover,” warning that such actions erode respect for institutions. “The Chief of Army Staff reports only to the President,” he said. “To imply otherwise is both institutionally wrong and politically dangerous.”

Political analyst, Dr Ladi Olatunde, also weighed in, noting that the optics of the letter were damaging. “When a former governor uses official letterhead, it sends the wrong signal — that the office and the individual are inseparable,” he said.

Despite deleting the post, screenshots of the letter continued to circulate, fuelling debate over political decorum and ethical leadership. By Saturday evening, hashtags #YahayaBello and #PowerHangover were trending nationwide, with many Nigerians calling for clearer boundaries and possible sanctions for misuse of state symbols.

Yusuf M.A. concluded: “Deleting the post doesn’t erase the optics. It only confirms Bello knew he’d crossed a line.”

The episode has reignited conversations around Nigeria’s political culture, particularly the tendency of former officeholders to retain symbolic trappings of power long after their tenure ends.

Yahaya Bello under fire for using Kogi letterhead in personal communication to army chief