The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has said that the outcome of the just-concluded governorship election has confirmed that only one section of the state cannot produce the governor, rather the three tribes must unite to produce the governor.
The governor spoke on Saturday at a stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress held at the Government House Lokoja.
He said the results of the election and subsequent emergence of Ahmed Ododo were a clear indication that the unity he had been preaching in the last seven years had yielded positive results.
He thanked God and President Bola Tinubu for the support which gave birth to the victory of the APC in the November 11 governorship election, stressing that the party and its candidate “won the election clean and clear.”
He said, “The journey was full of ups and downs in the last seven years. But we thank God for the resounding victory. With all the obstacles before, during, and after the election, the APC came out stronger.
“The time for everybody to carry his cross has come. Everybody will bear his father’s name because there is still a future.”
While maintaining that Kogi State must develop as one united state, he pointed out that under no illusion must any tribe think they could vote for themselves and become governor without the support of other tribes.
According to the governor, the November 11 governorship election has shown that unity is the watchword.
“In 2019, I won without ethnic agenda. I cautioned against tribal sentiments and asked that we desist from it before the election.
“I was optimistic that the APC would win the November 11 governorship election. I wanted it to be a sweet victory, reason I cautioned against sentiments,” he added.
Bello, however, said people allowed emotions, personal and parochial interests to becloud their sense of reasoning, but noted that the level of good governance provided by the present administration in the areas of road construction, health care and infrastructure development was enough for the APC to win overwhelmingly.
Bello described the Igala nation as good people, saying, “The Igala nation are not tribalistic or racist. They are good people but majority are being misled by poor representation.”
He assured the people of Kogi West that payback time would soon come and called on leaders to educate their people and be selfless.
“Time for Kogi State to consolidate on unity and security among other several achievements is now,” the governor said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, congratulated the APC family and the governor-elect, saying that the victory wouldn’t have been achieved without the support and hard work of the governor.
“Those who could not work for victory should break away from sentiments and work for a united Kogi State in the future,” he said.
Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, thanked the people of Kogi West for standing strong, despite three Okun sons being in the contest.
The Kogi State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, in his remarks, appreciated the APC faithful for fighting hard, while assuring members that the party would do a review of the process to determine those who betrayed the APC.
