In a recent APC stakeholder meeting at the Government House in Lokoja, Governor Yahaya Bello emphasized that the outcome of elections in Kogi State is no longer driven by ethnic biases. He attributed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 poll to the party’s presentation of a popular candidate rather than tribal affiliations in their campaign.
Emphasizing the need for unity, Bello stated, “Kogi must develop as one united state; under no illusion must any tribe think it could vote for itself and become governor without the support of other tribes.” He further highlighted that the success of the election demonstrated the prevailing importance of unity, stressing that his own victory in 2019 was achieved without an ethnic agenda.
The governor commended the support of President Bola Tinubu in securing the APC’s victory in the off-cycle election. He acknowledged, “Our party, the APC, and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo, won the election clean and clear. It was pertinent to review and evaluate the election, which APC won overwhelmingly, for people to learn from the mistakes and avoid the pitfalls of the past in future exercises.”
Reflecting on the challenging journey leading up to the election, Bello expressed gratitude for the resounding victory, emphasizing the need for everyone to take responsibility for the future. He stressed the significance of transparent governance in ensuring that the people benefit from democracy.
However, Bello expressed regret over the influence of emotions and personal interests during the election, maintaining that the good governance delivered by his administration, particularly in road construction, healthcare, and infrastructure development, justified the overwhelming victory of the APC.
Furthermore, the governor described the Igala nation as a community that is not inherently tribalistic or racist, but rather, he attributed the margin of victory to the influence of poor representation.
In a message directed at the people of Kogi West, Bello assured them of imminent recompense and urged leaders to instill selflessness in their constituents.
