Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has indicated that he will pursue the presidential ticket again in the near future despite losing his first attempt during last week’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.
He dropped the hint Wednesday while speaking with State House reporters after a thank-you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing him to participate in the exercise.
Bello, who said his participation in the APC presidential race was to “test the mic”, added that his next attempt would be “supersonic.”
The governor, who urged his supporters not to be disillusioned, said in life “sometimes you win some and sometimes, you lose some.”
He also appealed to them to support the ruling party across board in the coming elections.
On the possibility of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, running with a Muslim running mate, Bello said religion or region should not be the determinant for political offices.
He said the ability to deliver should be the major consideration for selection and not the a Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian ticket.
“The flagbearer, Senator to Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an astute politician. He understands the game well and he knows how to win a contest, especially at this level. I’m confident that himself, Mr. President, our party leaders and elders of our party will come up with a selection that is going to sell the party and the candidature of our party and ensure that victory, whether Muslim Muslim ticket ot Christian; whether from Northeast or wherever.
“I am confident that the party can come up with someone who will assist in the already victory that we are envisaging ahead of us. So, whether it is Muslim or Christian, we’re all Nigerians, it is long I have been advocating that we should de-emphasise our fault lines; that which divides us; let us rather dwell on what unites us more. So, that is my position.
“Merits and balance, equity, fairness and justice. When you put all of them together as a political party, what comes to mind first is how do we win this election? If we don’t win this election, where, how do you now come about your fairness, equity and justice for Nigeria.
“So, merit is very key; I’ve always been an advocate for merit because certain challenges that are confronting us today in this country, we need those who will come and solve this problem. If this place is not secured, we won’t be here today. Those that are here today, securing the Villa, securing this press room are not selected based on religion. They’re not selected based on region, they are selected based on competence, capacity to be able to protect this Villa. So, we need those who will be able to solve all of these challenges that are confronting us today in Nigeria.
“I completed a cycle, I started the journey. and I ended it well. I am a party man; I am Yahaya Bello, the executive governor of Kogi State, who just participated in the last APC special national convention that came up with a flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A lot of you might be disenchanted, disillusioned or not happy, please, be calm.
“The journey is not over. It is just a stop gap. Please let us support our party. The All Progressives Congress. In every contest, there are bound to be your winner. And there are bound to be those who did not win. In all, we are all winners, APC must win for our dream, for our hope to be alive. I thank you all God bless Nigeria.”
