Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, is under fire after posting and swiftly deleting a congratulatory letter to the new Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, written on the official Kogi State Government letterhead despite being out of office.
The letter, which carried the state coat of arms and Bello’s signature as “Executive Governor,” sparked outrage after it surfaced on social media, with critics accusing him of clinging to power and overstepping official boundaries.
Bello’s message to the Army Chief included a contentious line: “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.”
Observers said the phrase implied that the Chief of Army Staff could “belong” to a governor, a distortion of the military’s federal command structure.
Civic group @Kogi_Xcommunity was first to flag the letter, posting: “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 went viral, drawing sharp criticism from users.
@EmmanuelO_K wrote, “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.”
@KogiWatchdog added, “Using state letterhead as a private citizen is a breach of protocol. It shows how Bello still sees Kogi as his property.”
Public affairs analyst Yusuf M.A. called the episode “a case study in power hangover.” He said Bello’s wording and use of insignia revealed “a deep-seated attachment to authority,” warning that such actions undermine institutional respect.
“The Chief of Army Staff reports only to the President,” he noted. “To imply otherwise is both institutionally wrong and politically dangerous.”
Political analyst Dr Ladi Olatunde said the incident reflects the importance of optics in leadership. “When a former governor uses official letterhead, it sends the wrong signal — that the office and the individual are inseparable.”
Following the online uproar, Bello deleted the post without comment. But screenshots continued to circulate, fuelling debate over political decorum and ethical leadership.
By Saturday evening, hashtags #YahayaBello and #PowerHangover trended nationwide as Nigerians debated whether former officeholders should face penalties for misusing state symbols.
“Deleting the post doesn’t erase the optics,” Yusuf remarked. “It only confirms Bello knew he’d crossed a line.”
For many, the episode has become a metaphor for Nigeria’s enduring struggle with the culture of power retention, a reminder that in the digital age, a single letter can redefine a legacy.
