Gov Bello warns against campaign of calumny at inauguration of Kogi APC Campaign Council for November guber
By Fancy Media Team (FMT)
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has admonished members of the APC campaign council for the November 11 gubernatorial election against any form of campaign of calumny, admonishing them to focus on quality issues of development as the election approaches.
He gave the admonition on Tuesday during the official unveiling of the council at the State Government House in Lokoja.
Governor Bello noted that one of his biggest achievements in the state was the permanent nullification of any form of favoritism, ethnic or religious, emphasizing that whoever intends to seek electoral relevance on the basis of religious and tribal sentiments should be regarded as an enemy of the state.
“We are not going into this election with the toga of ethnicity or religion. We have a state to build and we must come together irrespective of tribe and religion. Whoever plays the cards of tribalism as a ploy to garner sympathy vote is doing that out of selfish interest.
“For the past seven years, I have been decisive in the fight against those primordial and regressive factors because they have held us down. I didn’t practice tribalism. I broke the jinx of ethnicity with even distribution of resources and appointments across the state,” he said.
Governor Yahaya Bello who specifically referenced Ankpa Local Government Area as having the potential of becoming the richest LGA in the state because of it’s natural endowments, regrettably noted that such feat became elusive as a result of negative dynamics of ethnicity over the years.
He however expressed optimism that the incoming government of Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman would consolidate on his efforts and comprehensively liberate the state from the shackles of those unimportant factors being promoted by some persons.
“Our President, the Jagaban of the Universe regards Kogi State as the heartbeat of the APC in the country and we must reciprocate this rare presidential recognition by not indulging in violence in the forthcoming governorship election,” he added.
Gov Bello therefore hinted that the administration would soon begin implementation of holistic dispensation of palliative that will be rolled out in a very comprehensive manner, adding that the palliative will be dispensed without any political considerations.
While corroborating the stance of Governor Yahaya Bello, the Honourable Minister for Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu who is the Director-General (DG) of the APC State Campaign Council, affirmed that Governor Yahaya Bello has principally implemented some of the lofty plans his father had for the state before his demise.
According to him, Prince Abubakar Audu was a leader that was not interested in ethnic agenda, adding that the Late former Governor’s vision for Kogi State was not also limited to only particular ethnic group.
“Gov Bello has profoundly built on the vision and aspiration of Prince Abubakar Audu for the state. Take a critical look at some of the projects implemented by this administration; they are all meant for the people of the state. Therefore, any agenda that is not holistic enough to carry everybody along is a selfish.
“For power to return to Kogi East, it requires patience and processes. It is delusional to think that the grandmaster of Nigeria politics, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would fold his hands and lose the first election that would be conducted in his administration to the opposition. In fact, how can a political party that has no structure, no representation at the LGA, state, and federal level be thinking of victory against the APC that is firmly entrenched in all local government Areas of the state?,” he queried.
Prince Shaibu who publicly expressed appreciation to Governor Yahaya Bello for nominating him as a Minister in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urged all the people of Kogi State, especially Kogi East, to reciprocate the gesture by giving overwhelming support to the governorship candidate of the APC, Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman.
“I was nominated by Governor Yahaya Bello to be a minister and this is the first time that an Igala person would become a senior minister in a presidential cabinet. I appeal to all members of other opposition parties to join the winning team in order to ensure a decisive victory. Having a Minister for Steel Development, and APC Governor in Kogi State will quicken our steps to revive the Ajaokuta steel,” he reiterated.
The state campaign council is made up of grassroot political bigwigs, technocrats and notable media influencers drawn across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
