It is one of those weird things about Nigeria, but which by now, comes as no surprise since we've all come to accept the fact that elections are no longer won through the ballot. So, when the likes of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State vie for the number one seat in the country, you can't rule out his chances of becoming the next president.
Anyway, our opinion doesn't really matter here. Posters have been flying across the country along with a handful of endorsements here and there. All these point to one conclusion, Governor Bello means business.
With now roughly about two years to go until 2023 presidential polls is finally upon us, a year poised to be more decisive for a polarized people who are still struggling to understand how they managed to survive over five years of horror under the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, power is most certain, to change hands, just not sure to where.
We have heard plenty of times about power moving either to the Southwest or to the East, Bello's decision to join the race however, suggests the North Central want a taste of power as well.
Whether someone else from the North Central region would also join the presidential race, is yet to be seen. However, efforts to ensure the Kogi State Governor clinches the APC party ticked, is gaining substantial grounds.
Bello is currently enjoying support from a handful or persons including from Kogi State's lawmakers who recently paid a visit to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Wednesday, to lobby support on behalf of Governor Bello, to emerge as the APC party’s presidential candidate.
In a bid to justify their solicitation, the lawmakers said that it was time states in the North Central unite and work with the sole aim for the zone to produce the next president.
The high-powered delegation led by the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole, made the call when they paid an advocacy visit to the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ilorin.
The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr Yakubu Danladi Salihu, said the agitation for power shift to North Central was a laudable move, recalling that the zone had yet to take shot as either President or Vice President since the nation’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
However, the Kogi Speaker told his host that the mobilisation drive for Governor Yahaya Bello to emerge as next president was due to some attributes in him as well as his contributions to the development of Kogi State and the nation since his election as governor.
Kolawole noted that Governor Bello had succeeded in addressing insecurity climate in the state, which was prevalent prior to his emergence.
He urged other zones in the country to concede the presidential ticket of the APC to Kogi Governor, saying that the nation would be in safe hand if Governor Bello is given the opportunity.