KOGI 2019: Bello lobbies Tinubu over second term aspiration

In a bid to secure his second term aspiration, Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, has visited the national leader of All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

The visit on Wednesday is believed to be connected to seeking Tinubu’s support towards the coming governorship election in the state.

Bello, during the visit, acknowledged Tinubu’s supremacy and also affirmed his support and endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila as the leaders of 9th Senate and House of Assembly in the coming political dispensation.

Bello, explained that his decision was borne out of the need to toe the line that the party had laid down democratically.

He further said that the party’s decision must always supersede individuals, therefore the need for every loyal member to support the party’s resolution.

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Governor Bello also saluted the courage of the former Lagos state governor as the national leader of the party, assuring him of his efforts to ensure that elected lawmakers from his state give their backing to both Lawan and Gbajabiamila leadership.

“You are our National Leader and we are your children. You have set the agenda and we shall ensure we make it a reality.

“I supported Hon Gbajabiamila in 2015 but it was unfortunate that we lost out. This time around, we shall make sure the decision of the party prevails by electing the two of them to work with Mr President to move the nation forward.

“We have two Senators-elect from my State and seven House of Representatives members-elect. They will listen to us. Even the two others who are in ADC and PDP will be lobbied to support us”.

Meanwhile, a source close to the National Leader of the party has said that “Bello’s visit and the decision was purposely to lobby Tinubu for his support ahead of his second term bid in office”.

Governor Bello who had declared his decision to run for the second term is believed may likely face challenges from offended party stalwarts in the state.

Speaking on the meeting with Tinubu, the source said “It was a pointer that things will work out well for Bello in the coming election. Since Bello has recognized Asiwaju’s supremacy and reckoned with him and Asiwaju also understood his relevance in the party, things will go on well”.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Asiwaju while acknowledging Bello’s visit thanked him for being a true party man.

He assured him of the party’s determination to retain the state in the forthcoming governorship election in November.

Tinubu however, charged Bello not to relent in his efforts to unite the party members in the state in other to move the state to a greater level.

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