Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state on Wednesday debunked the claimed that some leaders in the presidency had concluded it plan to deny him Kogi State All Progressive Party (APC) Governorship ticket because of lack of his performance allegations leveled against him, he said the report is not true.
The Governor said Buhari and APC National Chairman were both impressed with his performance and believe he has the charisma to win the state for the APC in the November 2 governorship election.
Yahaha Bello said these while Speaking with newsmen, through Kingsley Fanwo, Director-General, Media and Publicity to the governor.
He said base on the underperformance claimed credit to Bello in the last three years of his regime, the outcome of the 2019 general elections in Kogi state is a testimony that Yahaya Bello will delivers Kogi to APC if given APC ticket, Because APC recorded almost hundred percent victory of the just concluded 2019 general elections in the state.
He said: “No, I am not aware there are plans to deny the governor the ticket of the party. What I am aware of is that the leadership of the APC National Secretariat is quite happy with the governor and they are quite impressed with what he has done. They know the governor is very much on ground and will win the election if he gets the ticket of the party based on his acceptability and popularity. Let me give you an example.
“When the President was to start his state-wide campaign, there were arguments on where he should start from. Many of the states were not ready and we had less than 36 hours to flag-off. However, the governor of Kogi state said ‘We are ready!’ And within 36 hours, he pulled a crowd that was so impressive.
“When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the party came, he said ‘ I am shocked to see this massive crowd’. The President was so emotional that he had to move round the entire stadium, acknowledged cheers from thousands of supporters that thronged the stadium to welcome him to Lokoja and show solidarity with the host, Governor Yahaya Bello.
“So, that shows that even if Governor Yahaya Bello is given five hours, his people are always with him. That is something that is a big political capital to the leaders in the national secretariat. And I am sure that they will not want to throw away a tested hand and widely accepted leader for an untested hand.
“During the general elections, a lot of things were said by people both at the national secretariat and at the Presidency that Governor Yahaya Bello is owing salaries, he is a dictator and he is not popular and will not win a single seat in the 2019 elections. Some even placed bet on this that he was not going to deliver the state to APC.
“But at the end of the day, the President won comfortably in Kogi state. We delivered two of the three Senate seats, we delivered seven of the nine House of Reps seats. And all the 25 House of Assembly members are all APC members. We are even confused right now because we don’t know how we are going to sort out the issue of minority leader because there is no minority party in the House.
“That is something that has never happened in the history of Kogi state, not even when the much respected late leader of our party, Prince Abubakar Audu was around. We could not record such feat not even when the tsunami of 2015 took place and everybody was voting APC. Then the House of Assembly was dominated by APC but this governor has ensured that APC eventually became the majority party in the present Assembly.
“This is a straightforward thing. The Presidency and the party leadership at the national, and the state leadership of the party are very much aware that this governor will deliver in the November 2 governorship and so, they will be very happy if he emerges the candidate of the party”.
Responding to petition written against Bello by Kogi APC elder Forum, he said those who wrote the petition were sponsored by politicians outside the state who is against Bello re-election, He say this while speaking with Daily Independent.
“They are Elders who are no more active in the party. They have not been participating in the Affairs of the party since 2015. They are being sponsored by politicians from outside the state.
“The Governor is in firm control of the party in the state because the people believe in him.”
Be the first to comment