AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has urged Nigerians asking him to declare his interest for presidency in the 2023 general elections to wait for time to mature.
Bello spoke recently at the sidelines of the maiden Annual Governor Yaya Bello Seminar for the Media, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, during an interview with journalists on the call by his loyalists that he should declare his interest to contest in the 2023 Presidential polls.
The governor said that the call by his supporter to run for presidency was based on his performance and the trust that he was capable to bail the nation out of the precipice.
He said, “Nigerians are in search of an individual who can address the nation’s unity and insecurity. That is why the people are desirous of having me as the nation’s President come 2023. Please, be patient, I will make a categorical statement on your (Nigerians) demand at the appropriate time.”
Bello recalled that his emergence as governor of Kogi State in 2019 was by divine intervention, saying this aided him to govern with empathy and the love of the people at heart.
The governor stated, “If, by the grace of God, I accept to run, I have the capacity to replicate what we have done and are doing in Kogi at the federal level as president of this country.”
On the anti-open grazing law being proposed by the southern governors, Bello said that the existing law on open grazing had become obsolete. He, however, called for caution, saying, “it cannot be stopped overnight.”
The governor stressed the need for the country to focus on industrialization. “It can’t be done immediately. For example, we can’t build this type of gigantic Transcorp Hotel in Kogi overnight. It takes a process to build. Most of our problems in this country are political.
“Everyone has been calling for a ban on open grazing. Yes, open grazing is outdated and obsolete, however, we can’t stop open grazing overnight. We can still accommodate these herders.
“These animals are owned by prominent Nigerians; people like us. There are security intelligence and security agencies have the information on owners of the herds. I wonder why they have not come to the open to announce and reveal their identities.
“I wish you knew what I know on open grazing. Few elements are undermining the efforts of President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration. So let’s, as youths, reclaim and rule our country. Nigerians must move away from mundane issues. We should not allow some undesirable politicians to divide Nigeria. We are better together.
“Farmers and herders were killing themselves in Kogi State before we came into office. Now, it’s a thing of the past through holistic engagements of stakeholders with severe sanction to offenders. In Kogi State, we are watching each other’s back on the issue of farmers and herders relationship. That is why we have peace in our state.”
