Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

LAGOS – Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has dumped his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Independent has re­liably gathered.

The governor, who has not hidden his desire to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, recently said Nigerians were asking him to contest for the seat of the presidency in 2023 general elections.

He also said that he believes he has the necessary qualities to perform excellently as president, especially in uniting the nation, which, according to him, is seri­ously divided.

“The youths and women and all Nigerians, including very objective elite, are asking me to run for president in 2023. And I believe that it is high time that we looked into capacity — who can do the job? Who is going to unify this country? And I think they are seeing something in me that they are asking me to come and unite and fix this country,” he said.

However, speaking with Daily Independent, a serving Commissioner in Kogi State, who is a close ally to the gov­ernor, said the governor has toned down his presidential ambition “given a strong feel­ing that the APC might pick its presidential candidate from the South”.

He also added that the resolve by the Southern Governors’ Fo­rum (SGF) that they will work against any political party that picks a presidential flagbear­er from the North in 2023 has really caused a major setback to Governor Bello’s ambition, even though he is yet to formal­ly declare.

“Yes, the governor has not given up but he is lying low now. Many youths and other Nigeri­ans are still asking him to run in 2023andmanysolidaritygroups are still springing up every day declaring support for him.

“However, recent develop­ments in the polity, especially the resolution by the Southern gov­ernors that they won’t support any Northerner has made him to tone down on his ambition. While some people in the APC are calling for the presidential ticket to be thrown open, the majority of party members are calling on the party leadership to zone it to the South, given the fact that President Buhari who is from the North will be completing eight years in 2023".

“So, the governor will formally make his position known soon on whether he will contest the presidency or not but he has not given up, especially with mas­sive support and endorsement he keeps receiving throughout the country.”

Another credible source in the party, however, informed Daily Independent that the gov­ernor has already begun consul­tations with party leaders on be­coming the running mate of the would-be presidential candidate of the party, if the presidential ticket is eventually zoned to the South.

“I am aware he is leaving his options open for running mate to the presidential candidate if the ticket is zoned to the South because naturally the vice-pres­idential candidate will be picked from the North. But that is also hinged on many factors. If the presidential candidate is a Mus­lim, can Nigerians afford to vote for two Muslims on the same ticket?”

When contacted, Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s Commission­er for Information, declined to respond to our enquiries on whether the governor has given up on his presidential ambition.­

However, Onogwu Moham­med, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said since his principal has not officially de­clared his intention to run for president, it is out of place to say he has dropped his presidential ambition.

“Has he officially declared his ambition? So, what are they say­ing? Of course, many Nigerians are calling on him to run but he has not officially declared and he has not made his ambition known publicly. So, this is not the time to say whether he has an ambition which he has dropped for any other interests”.

https://independent.ng/2023-yahaya-bello-dumps-presidential-bid-lobbies-apc-leaders-for-vp-slot/

Anybody who believes Yeye Bello really wants to become president in the first place is mad.

Good for him

Tinubu or Osinbajo is our next President

Haters should go and hang themselves

Now his talking.

The Apc hand writing on the wall is so clear for blind to see, audible to deaf to hear

Oniranu
Awon ojelu

Lol, better

"ALL Nigerians, including very objective elite, are asking me to run for president in 2023"
What an insult on our collective intelligence

Okay

This man is delusional.



But I wouldn't blame him. A country that elected Buhari and Osinbajo twice are capable of electing just anything and anybody. A country the worst of it's citizens are leading the best of the citizens.


What a shame!

This one is delusional. Ordinary senate he won’t get after his tenure

He has seen the hand writing on the wall, they would suck him dry and throw him under the bus.

?

adesegun121:
Oniranu
Awon ojelu

This mentally unstable human being

Even Minister Yahaya Bello can not get.

He's getting the attention he sought though

Shingbain, he no go get, yayah is a feather weight in politics, he's just a noise maker

Whoever advised this man to change his mind is very wicked and should never be forgiven

The Kogi state money wey we dey plan chop, they don go block our hope

He could have been serious with the Presidential tickets anyways.

Even the VP slot, he may not likely see.

His forefathers are mad. The Core North will never allow one useless North Central miscreant governor to have the North VP slot.

B

MANNA the vulture griller is very stupid!!!

Misfit niggors

E over am na

Even vp no go reach am...

Let him go and rest

Most stupid governor of all time. Misfits of a human.

FFK, your office has been demoted.

He'll still fail in that bid

That man is getting over ambitious.

Yahaya Bello the White lion.
I can't complain about him as he is far better than any governor Ortom.