2023: Yahaya Bello and His Gathering Presidential Momentum

2023: Yahaya Bello and His Gathering Presidential Momentum

M.D. Lawal

No doubt Nigeria is once again on the brink of making a tough choice, one that will determine its trajectory in another round of democratic circle and dictate what comes out of it based on the next man to mount the national wheels.

The political constellations have begun to change; alignments and realignments on party leanings and preferred candidates to hold various politically electable seats have begun to take form and as usual, interest, bias, fowl play, rigidity, doggedness and above all, ambition are all rearing their heads in the run up to the 2023 general elections.

Nigeria being a Federal Republic, Government at the center no doubt is integral to the functionality of its subordinate organs at the sub-national level no wonder everyone is interested in who becomes the next President, thanks to limitations in the 1999 constitutions, otherwise it would have been ideal that Nigerians are in equal measure interested in who becomes their next Governor, Representative and Local Government Chairman.

In the light of the above, many candidates have either been touted, or touted themselves as being the next capable individual to succeed a man who was elected on the mantra of security and anti-corruption since 2015, yet certain conditions have continued to permeate.

Among all the likely candidate for the Aso Rock job, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was among the first to brave the odds and openly declare his ambition, while others saw it as premature and laughable, i chose to see it for what it was – unparalleled courage – and with the current state of things in Nigeria, i strongly believe courage matters in whoever becomes the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Courage to take unpopular decisions, courage to stand firm, courage to stand out, courage to call the bluff of the enemies of state and above all, courage address Nigeria’s unity in diversity.

The white lion as he is fondly called by his fans and admirers has always stood out on all the marks. Curiously, since his public declaration his popularity rating has soared albeit in the face of grievous allegations of funds misappropriation and withholding of workers salary in the state.

Notwithstanding, his ambition has continued to gather momentum among admirers, movie stars, elder statesmen, former political heavyweights, elephantine politicians, youth groups among others.

Recently, not less than forty youth groups in Kano, including professional, students, political groups among others, endorsed his candidacy.

The group said it endorsed the Kogi State Governor due to his proactiveness in tackling security in the state, his gender and youth inclusive reforms and infrastructural development among others.

In August last year, the Christian Youth Leadership Network also endorsed the Kogi State Governor, touting him as the “right choice” to succeed President Buhari in 2023.

Convener of the retreat, Faith Eches, said Mr Bello would change Nigeria’s narrative, “considering his leadership strides in Kogi State.”

Mr Eches said the choice of Mr Bello was also in line with the thoughts of former President Ibrahim Babangida, who says Nigeria should be ruled by someone no more than 60 years.

In a similar dimension, some political and religious leaders from Kano State have assured Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi of their support in the upcoming 2023 general elections.

The group pledged their loyalty when they visited Bello, adding that as ardent followers of President Muhammadu Buhari, they are ready to give him all the support he required.

Governor Bello shot into limelight in the year 2016 when he miraculously ascended the lugard house throne following the sudden death of then gubernatorial flag bearer Abubakar Audu who was coasting home to victory on a party’s ticket upon which Yahaya Bello was running up during the primaries.

Following that turn of event, the Kogi State Governor made history as the first son of Ebiraland to become Governor since the creation of the state in 1991, he has since then gone ahead to take both conventional and unconventional governance decisions and actions that may not necessarily go than well with order and perceptions but have certainly made him a formidable candidate to vie for the presidential seat based on realities of real world governance.

On the youth appeal, it is no longer news that the clamour for youth leadership in governance have continued to gather impetus ahead of the general elections and besides the like of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, the Kogi State Governor is one man who has not only rightly imposed himself as a youth in the system but is paving the way for youth and gender led governance as typified in his appointments.

For one, I have never hidden my bais for visionary, exemplary leaders like El-Rufai and now Yahaya Bello who carry along the current generation in their own development. This appeal is surely a soft sell and reasonable ground for considerations by individuals like me who yearn to see young people dominating the governance space in the next political dispensation.

The people of Ebiraland where Yahaya Bello hails from, are known to be stiff, fearless and courageous in confronting threats and standing up for what matters. So far, the white lion has not betrayed this gene in being politically independent, youth and gender inclusive, and tackling insecurity and such individual will surely not cower in the growing face of banditry and terroism ravaging substantial parts of Nigeria

In terms of symbolism, Yahaya Bello represents a silent minority who are known to stand for a cause and his ascension will maintain a neutral rallying ground for Nigeria’s unity in diversity.

As we continue to watch the game down to the presidential race, the son of Ebiraland’s gathering momentum continues to fascinate political pundits in addition to the scorecard on his name tag albeit on security, fearless elimination of ghost workers who are the engine room of civil service corruption.

For us at the youth level, our preference for a presidential candidate who will bring us to the table and give us a free hand in policy directions, strategy and implementation for national growth and sustainable development towards the benefit of every single Nigerian is non-negotiable!

M.D. A Media Strategist and Development Journalist writes from Kano

 
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