2023: Consensus, growing list of aspirants not a threat says Yahaya Bello

Kogi state Governor and presidential aspirant in the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has said that consensus arrangement adopted in the party in the past as well as growing interest shown by other party chieftains in the top office are not threats to his presidential ambition.

The Kogi Governor also said he was sure to pick the ticket should the party chose to adopt consensus or any other primary selection arrangement.

The governor spoke through his Presidential Campaign Organization at a media interface Tuesday in Abuja.

Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo recently joined the list of presidential aspirants in the APC.

Before them were Governor Bello, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, Chief Moses Ayom, Mr Ihechukwu Dallas Chima, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Head, Directorate of Media and Publicity of the campaign organization, Mrs Yemi Kolapo disclosed that Governor Bello is not intimidated by the political profile of fellow aspirants, saying the old brigade should be the ones afraid of him.

Kolapo was represented by the quartet of the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammed Onogwu, CPS, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Mrs Billy Avoyi Nwogu and her counterpart in charge of Print Media, Mr Mike Ozigi.

“It is not about what they have been or done in the past. When you compare that to what someone is doing at the moment, I think they are the ones that should be intimidated right now because it is not about what you have achieved in the past. It is strictly what you are doing now. Gov. Bello has been chief executive of his state for over six years and he is going to do a great job for Nigeria”, said Fanwo who spoke on behalf of others.

The Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organization also dismissed any zoning arrangement in the APC, saying ahead of next year’s general election, Nigerians must vote for competence rather than ethnic sentiments.

Noting that only a courageous youth like the Kogi state governor can destroy the monster called zoning, the organization queried what Nigeria has benefited from its long years of zoning political offices after independence in 1960.