KOGI GOVERNORSHIP: Students adopt Bello amidst controversy

Despite the moves by Kogi indigenes to stop the second term bid of Governor Yahaya Bello, associations of Kogi students across the nation have pledged their support for him.

The joint leadership of the students’ associations unravelled the development at a joint conference held on Thursday at Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.

The students are from different associations such as; Kogi State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Igala Students Association (ISA), National Association of Ebira Students (NAES), and the National Association of Okun Students (NAOS) among others.

Recall that workers and some indigenes of Kogi state had vowed to put an end to Bello’s second term in office.

In a recent encounter with the governor, the workers in the state lamented their ugly experience due to the 39 months’ salary allegedly owed by the governor, saying that they will dispense all within their capacity to halt his second term bid.

In the same bein, some Igala Indigenes in the state had also moved against the second term bid of the governor in office.

According to them, Bello didn’t merit the second term in office considering his performance in the last four years. They also alleged the governor of making their traditional rulers endorse him for the second term under duress.

But contrary to the indigenes’ position, the students said Bello remains their choice in the coming governorship poll in the state.

The leader of the association, comrade Hussein Attaja explained to newsmen that their decision to support Bello was a fallout of the recent interface by the Conference of All Students Associations in the state which culminated in jointly passing a vote of confidence on the youthful governor.

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He said Bello remained the better option among the people that have been parading themselves for the governorship race considering how he has extended show of love to the youth.

Going further, the student leader said the governor had demonstrated a good interest in the students’ welfare and others in the state, adding that they had enjoyed uninterrupted education in all Kogi state-owned tertiary institutions.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of APC in Kogi state Comrade Daniel Isah has charged the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to embark on character analysis of the party’s governorship aspirants to ensure that the APC gives its ticket to a credible and best candidate in Kogi state.

Comrade Isah gave the charge due to different reactions that have trailed Yahaya’s term in office.

“God has again given us another opportunity for us to kick start another rescue mission. As it is today the government in power has failed the common people of Kogi state and for us to get it right in tune and in touch with the manifesto of the All Progressive Congress.

“We have to bring a very good and strong tusk bearer on board who will emerge as the next governor of the state, who will put the true manifesto of the party on the table where the good people will smile again, where the welfare of the good people of Kogi state will be a topmost priority”, he had said.

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