Northern Group Backs Yahaya Bello For 2023 Presidency

A Northern group has backed the Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello, to contest the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

The group under the aegis of North Central Coalition for Leadership ( NCCL) made this known on Monday in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Williams Charles.

According to Charles, the reason for supporting the governor to contest for the presidency is to correct the imbalance against the North Central region.

He alleged that the region has been sidelined in the sharing of the top political office and other major offices right from the first republic to the date.

The group’s coordinator opined that the North Central zone has been uniting and mediating for other regions, saying it is the time of the zone to be taken care of.

Charles, however, asked the governor to heed the clarion call and declare for the presidency in 2023.

The statement said: “In the spirit of brotherhood, the other Zones should only queue behind a candidature from the North Central zone. The North Central zone has not tasted the presidency since the existence of Nigeria as a nation in 1960.

“Democracy is about Equity, Fairness and Justice. Considering the above statistics there is a great imbalance and zero of inclusiveness amounting to and obvious marginalization of Northcentral.

“On this note, therefore, it is only fair that the Northcentral be given the support of well-meaning Nigerians to produce the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023.

“At this time that we seem more divided than united, as what we need now is a unifier, a bridge between the old and the young, a daring and audacious Youth.”

The group noted that the governor has demonstrated capacity in tackling security challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

It said: “Who else should we be looking for if not Governor Yahaya Bello who has demonstrated capacity in tackling security challenges in the state and the country.

“Yahaya Bello as a visionary youth with proven track records of performance, who has refused the temptation to lockdown Kogi state during the first covid-19 lockdown, which has, in turn, the increased investment in Kogi state by 1 Billion Naira ahead of Lagos state.

“Kogi State tertiary institutions are in session, graduating students, while their contemporaries are at home for over a year. It takes a man with courage and doggedness to achieve these feats in the face of crisis militating against economies and governments.

“He has demonstrated the political will to sanitize a civil service that was polarized with ghost workers. it is on record that Yahaya Bello boldly alleged top politicians being behind insecurity in the country.

“He has consistently maintained his position on Covid -19 and criticized the 560 billion nairas earmarked for the purchase of the vaccines. He argued that the amount could be used to build over 40 world-class, state-of-art health centres all around Nigeria that will cater for health needs of the people.”