During the last weekend, GYB, as he is popularly addressed, has said he has what it takes to provide purposeful leadership and good governance for Nigeria if elected as president in the 2023 general elec­tions.

The governor, who is currently in his second term, ap­pealed to Nigerians to join hands with him in the struggle to liberate the country from many of the chal­lenges confronting her.

While praising President Mu­hammadu Buhari for his efforts so far since assumption of office in May 2015, the governor, who said he wants to consolidate on the achievements of President Buhari, said the pres­ident is a kind-hearted leader who means well for the country and has genuine interests of Nigeri­ans in all his dealings.

According to him, aside President Buhari and few Ni­gerian leaders, majority of the present crop of leaders today do not have the interest of the country at heart.

He further urged Nigeri­ans to keep faith with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ignore the antics of the opposition Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP), saying it is the only party that can take Nigeria to the Promised Land.

He said, “I want everyone to join me in the struggle to liberate this country. We must seize this golden opportunity to save our nation.

“By the grace of God, I’m ready to lead and I will pro­vide all the quality leadership that is required in the country.

“Let us do our bit to sup­port the current administra­tion and join hands with Pres­ident Muhammadu Buhari to save this country. Those that are leading today, I can assure you that apart from Mr. Presi­dent and very few ones, others don’t have the interest of the country at heart. They don’t care about us and that is the truth”.

Last week, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation (AYTF), a Zaria-based group with roots across the six geo-political zones of the country, urged Governor Bello to declare his interest in the presidential race.

The group’s leader, Dr. Fa­had Chikaji Ahmed, said the youthful governor has the ability to take the country to a higher pedestal in its quest to attain the best in terms of growth and development.

Ahmed described Bello as a political leader and an ad­ministrator who is imbued with a genuine passion to facilitate and promote the socio-economic and infra­structural development of the country.

“Many Nigerians are proud to endorse his candida­ture for the presidential seat, not only in the near future, but also in the 2023 elections because he would be a can­didate who has the potential to restore peace to Nigeria and also effectively carry the youths along.

Nigerians deserve better and ought to demand better. Governor Bello, as the pres­ident, will provide an oppor­tunity for Nigerians to regain their long-established appe­tite for compromise to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges at home and for an international common cause to safeguard the gains of internal democracy and prosperity.”

In a motion sponsored by Hassan Abdullahi, the Major­ity Leader of the House, Bello has performed well since he assumed office in 2016 and has initiated sound economic pol­icies and programmes.

The right honourable speaker and honourable members of the Kogi State House of Assembly upon due deliberation of proper motion therefore, do hereby unanimously make and pass a vote of confidence on His Excellency, Governor Yaha­ya Bello of Kogi State,” the lawmaker said.

“That this Kogi State House of Assembly further makes a call to national ser­vice to His Excellency, Gov­ernor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and we hereby impress it upon him to run for the office of the president or vice-president of Nigeria in 2023 – after his current assign­ment in Kogi State.

“That this solemn call is first and foremost premised upon and borne out of our belief that the subject, Yaha­ya Bello, is a fit and proper person, with the right mix of youth, experience and track record to answer – same firm­ly and decisively in 2023 and beyond.”