Kogiflame
A Youth group, with membership across Nigeria, the’YouthO’clock Nigeria’ has said that the former Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, posses the needed qualities, to pilot the affairs of the All Progresssives Congress, (APC), following the sudden exit of the former national chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
A statement made available to Journalists in Lokoja, by the convener, Ismail O. Ismaila, noted that the sudden resignation of Ganduje, no doubt has ushered into the ruling party great uncertainties, particularly as his resignation has been linked with high level scheming connected to the 2027 general elections.
In his words “The sudden resignation and departure of the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who is the former Governor of Kano state has no doubt ushered into the ruling party great uncertainties, particularly as his resignation has been linked with high level scheming connected to the 2027 general elections.
“While Ganduje’s resignation comes as a great shock just about two years into his reign as party chairman, the APC can no doubt count among its ranks a host of remarkable politicians who can fill the vacuum created.
“One of such men is the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello. A man of exceptional charisma, uncommon vision and amiable mien, well loved and respected by his supporters and followers, and equally disdained and suspected by his opponents and detractors but his imprints on the national political stage is hard to erase.
“Bello whose meteoric ascent to national reckoning at the age of 39, infused great hope in the political system that has long yearned for youthful representation and succeeded in inflaming youthful passion within the APC in 2023 in the lead up to the party’s presidential primary.
“An ardent supporter of former president Muhammadu Buhari, Bello also possessed excellent rapprochement with incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even before the latter succeeded to that most coveted office.
He stressed that Bello’s support to the APC victory in the 2023 general election is beyond doubt and well documented, adding that his political acumen grew remarkably in the eight years he stayed in office and his presidential aspiration on the platform of the APC has also brought his dexterity to a crescendo as he pressed the claim of the north central bloc of the party.
“Yahaya Bello’s brand and tentacles extend beyond the North Central geopolitical zone, building and forging bonds and alliances that have stood the test of time.
“While Yahaya Bello has been relatively muted, since exiting the governorship his value can not be overstated. A man of dogged and tireless energy, as it stands Bello is a man in search of a cause, and this man who extinguished his growing momentum in 2023 to support Tinubu’s presidential candidacy seems to be the most veritable candidate to step into the shoes of Umar Ganduje especially as Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general election.
“Two reasons would suffice to lend credibility to Bello’s suitability. One is the traction and appeal that he has among the Nigerian youth demography, a momentum built overtime with his personae and advocacy, in the face of clamour for more youthful representation in the scheme of things, particularly with Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and other youthful faces in the opposition coalition.
“Bello’s dynamism would no doubt bring renewed vibrancy to the administration of party affairs and project a new image for the party’s brand.
“Secondly, Bello’s chairmanship would appease and conciliate disparate factions in the party who feel sidelined and disenchanted. The North Central bloc of the party, which has long demanded the chairmanship position on the basis of its consistent loyalty to the party which has translated into millions of electoral votes in presidential elections. And of this north central bloc, Kogi state has been the arrowhead since the party’s formation in 2023.
He added that Bello also enjoys cross sectional and transcendential support within the APC given his extraordinary personality capacity, and through his strong relationship with former President Muhammadu Buhari, the CPC bloc of the APC, saying that he could be instrumental in shoring up its faltering devotion and punch a hole in the new ADC coalition.
“While others that staunchly and consistently supported President Tinubu’s coming to power, the likes Tanko Al Makura, Yakubu Dogara, Abdullahi Ganduje and many more others have been compensated with juicy and executive positions, Yahaya Bello is yet to taste the reward of his support.
“But given the imperative of the current opening, Yahaya Bello may not only be the dark horse but the wild card.
