Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has stayed resolute on his decision to contest at the primary election on Tuesday evening, despite the stance of the APC Governors to zone the Presidency to the South.
Bello, who prides himself as a unifier said it’s his democratic and constitutional right to vie for office and said he’s not a supporter of “turn-by-turn” Presidency.
He revealed his position on Tuesday after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari to explain why he left the meeting of the Northern Governors.
“I am a free citizen and a qualified member of the party. I am contesting. I bought the form, was cleared to participate in the primary, and there is no reason for me to be excluded from the ballot. If they do so, then that is a recipe for a bigger trouble for the party,” he said.
“However, I don’t think it is a decision of the party. It is a decision of a few elites who may decide to use their position to oppress the so-called minority. But I want to prove that in this country, I am not in the minority. I belong to the younger generation and Nigerians that are oppressed and are saying that their voices must be heard.
“I believe strongly that getting into that arena today, I will win overwhelmingly if the process and normal regulations are followed; I will emerge victorious.”
He said he stands for Nigeria’s unity and security as that cannot be solved with his colleague’s position.
“I am a unifier. I have demonstrated that severally in my state and in carrying out various tasks that I was given by the party. So, nobody consulted me over the decision that power be shifted to the south and I would say they were enrolled by a certain interest that wants to be the vice-president at all costs,” he said.
“And I continue to oppose the issue of turn-by-turn presidency because the insecurity that is facing us today does not respect that. Every part of this country is faced with insecurity and wants prosperity and we want unity in this country, which is what I stand for.
“Who should be able to solve that problem is what should occupy our minds now, not rotational presidency.”
