Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has declared his unflinching support for the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate for the February 25 election.
The Kogi governor who heads the youth wing of the APC presidential Campaign Council, PCC spoke amidst suggestion that he has withdrawn his support for Tinubu, due to his closeness to James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives representing Lagos in the National Assembly, who’s believed to be nursing governorship ambition in Kogi State. Faleke is a close ally of the former Lagos governor, and a key figure in his presidential campaign.
The next govrnorship election in the state is billed to hold later in the year in November, and as the incumbent will no longer be contesting after spending two terms in office, Faleke is said to be standing by to succeed him.
Faleke had contested the governorship primary of APC in 2016, but lost to Bello who also went ahead to secure a second term in office. The House of Representatives member is said to be planning a come back, and not a few insist that Tinubu will pull his weight behind him to succeed Bello if the former Lagos governor emerged winner in the presidential election.
The permutation is said not to sit well with Governor Bello, who, according to reports has developed cold feet in supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid.
But speaking on a Channels Television Politics Today, Bello dismissed the rumour that he has parted ways with Tinubu. The Kogi helmsman described himself as an ‘ardent’ supporter of the APC pesidential candidate, saying that he’s one of the biggest ‘mobilizer’ in the APC ‘s bid to retain the pesidency in next month’s election.
He also dismissed any rift with Faleke, adding that they both ‘compare notes’ on how to ensure that Tinubu wins the pesidency.
On the next governorship election in the state, and his likely successor, Bello said “when we get to the bridge we will cross it, and the election is still very far away’ to be contemplating who the next governor will be, adding that he’s currently focused in mobilising the youths to deliver the votes required by his party to emerge winner in the make or mar presidential contest.
Bello said, “I woke up to see that fake news in the air today. It’s most unfortunate and I am urging all the law enforcement agents and all regulatory bodies regarding journalism and media practitioners that are practicing in Nigeria to please live up to their responsibilities.
“Let me further reassure millions of Nigerian youths and Nigerians, our followers and supporters across the world that I remain a very supportive, ardent supporter, mobilizer, campaigner, and driver of votes for our leader and president in the waiting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the flag bearer of our great party the All Progressives Congress and my own brother, His Excellency Kashim Shettima.”
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