…Says, challenges wear no colouration of religion and ethnicity
One of the leading Presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said that it is time for Nigeria to bridge the gaps of religion and ethnicity that divide the country and dwell on those things that cement relationship and unite the people.
This was as he also declared that his candidature will neutralize the various different challenges confronting the nation.
Bello therefore called on his Party members to zero their choice of a candidate at the presidential primary as he is the only candidate that is ready and determined to dismantle all fault lines that divide the nation and undermined her development.
Bello, who stated these in Abuja on Friday at the Second Annual GYB Seminar for Political, Crime Correspondents and Editors, said he remains the best option open to the APC in the scheduled 2023 elections.
The Kogi Governor said that the desire of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the 2023 presidential election must be followed with interest for the candidate that would galvanize the Nigerian electorate, adding that the 2023 election should answer the queries of the Nigerian woman and youth clamouring for security and employment.
According to Bello; “APC wants to win the next election and it is a party in search of quality. APC is a party of nothing less than 41 million members and it is aware that the man who mobilized over 41 million members into the party and the mobilization ensured that membership of the party cuts across the geopolitical zones.
“Irrespective of state, religion, background or class, APC knows the body language of the nation today. APC is aware that the youth and women are clamoring for that person who is detribalized, who is coming to solve the insecurity challenges we are faced with today.
“They are aware of that I am that man that is coming to build on the projects and achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he enthused.
Bello further said; “They know what Nigeria’s are clamoring for and know who is accepted both by the North and the South, by Muslims and Christians, or even non-believers.
“They know that man who is going to turn the fortunes of this country around. I am a man that can speak the language of old and younger generation and they know that man who has performed well in the state within the shortest possible time he is saddled with the responsibility.
“This time around is a time we must get to see that this sentiment of where you come from does not count. And you have a man that has practices and it has become part of our society in focus. It is by the special grace of God that I have put myself forward to be that man,” Bello said.
Bello said it is good to champion the new Nigeria where all sentiments should no longer count, adding that zoning of political position cannot be an option to take now particularly as the nation battles insecurity, unemployment and other challenges that do not consider any of the divisive tendencies in their usage, benefit or otherwise.
The Presidential aspirant noted that the challenges of insecurity, unemployment and other vices do not wear the divisive traits of religion, ethnicity or age thus, said that he is of the strong view that Nigerians should continue to dwell on things that divides them.
He further said; The issue of which zone we come from or the religion in practice is not the solution to our problems. I happen to be a liberal minded person. I happen to be a Muslim because I was born a Muslim and I happen to come from Kogi state because I was born there or North Central or the Northern part of the country. But, most importantly, I am Nigerian. I did not choose to be a Muslim; I was born so. I didn’t choose to be an Ebira, that is a language my people speak and because that is how I was born. I didn’t choose the come from Kogi State or from North Central; that is where I was born.
“But we want to make sure that the language you speak or the religion you practice, or where you come from, by way of origin, does not matter again in our presidency,” Bello assured.
