Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said that he
possesses the necessary qualities to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari
in 2023.
The governor said this while fielding questions from State
House reporters after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in
Abuja.
He also defended the necessity of his candidacy despite the
current argument over the zoning of the Presidency.
Bello said from 1999 till date, the North had not spent up
to the number of years utilized by the past occupants of the seat from the
South.
Asked whether he had informed the President about 2023
presidential race, the personality he thought should take over from Buhari and
the motive behind his ambition, he said: “Mr President would want a vibrant,
experienced, energetic, patriotic Nigerian to take over from him and in all of
the qualities that Nigerians are yearning, or looking for today, I possess all
of these qualities by the special grace of God.
“Nigerians are yearning and asking myself to run for the
President come 2023 and by the special grace of God, I will not turn down that
offer.
“Also, Mr President is one of the Nigerians like I said who
would want a qualified person to take over from him.
“Informing him is between myself and him, it is not what I
should come to the public to tell the world that I have informed Mr President
that I want to run.
“But surely short days, and possibly weeks ahead we are
going to come to the public to declare our intention by the special grace of
God.”
On his reaction to the questions on whether his records were
enough to present him as a qualified candidate and the view that the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) might zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the
South in the spirit of federal character since power would have stayed eight
years in the North by 2023, Governor Bello replied: “First, what have I done to
merit the presidency of this country?
“You simply refer to 2016 when I assumed office, compared it
to this moment security-wise, in terms of unity, in terms of infrastructural
development.
“I think we should not be laid back to the extent that we
don’t read and research. I don’t have to come to the television to be blowing
my trumpet. You come to Kogi State, you’ll see exactly what we have done.
“Simply, you can visit our website and then you’re going to
see what we’ve done. Visit kogipedia.net you’re going to see the much we have
done.
“We have surpassed more than any other person can ever
imagine. That in terms of unity, Kogi State today is more united than ever
before.
“Today, nobody cares where you come from or the religion you
practice, Nigerians are yearning for this.
“In terms of security before you travel through Kogi State,
you hold your breath, today you can travel day and night. Pockets of issue
sometimes, but it can never be the situation it was in 2016.”
Call for Zoning
On zoning question, he said: “Then concerning whether North
and South, first, I’m an advocate of capacity and ability to serve.
“In Nigeria today, we need somebody who has the capacity to
serve the country. Today, if you’re flying from one place to another, you don’t
care who the pilot is, but who is that person who is experienced to fly from
one point to another.
“Also coming from the angle of North and South divide, then
let us be very fair and equitable. Then, you look into the number of years
North have held this position and the number of years South has held this
position.
“If you add eight years to what South has had and then
looking at the North, then you know that there’s injustice as far as that is
concerned.
“So, if we’re talking about justice, fairness and equity,
we’re not just looking at the eight years by the grace of God of that of
President Muhammadu Buhari, we should add them together to the number of years
the North has had it since 1999 till date, and the number of years South have
had it since 1999 till date. Whichever divide whichever argument that comes up
I perfectly fit into the arguments.”
When asked about the time he would make a formal declaration
about his ambition after the convention, he said: “I shall declare after
February by the grace of God”.
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