Will Kogi Governor Finish His Term in Peace?
There are quite a few people oiling their gears for the 2023 presidential race. The political profiles of these individuals are enough to recreate the settings of George Orwell’s novel, ‘Animal Farm’. One can only say that some of the front liners in the race— Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello come to mind—are facing more opposition than others.
More curtains are falling over the presidential ambition of Bello. These curtains have taken the form of complaints and allegations to the effect that the Ebira man has left his constitutional duties and begun to chase his dream of occupying the presidential suite at Aso Villa. In other words, Bello has been accused of gradually shifting gears, abandoning his current seat of power in Lokoja for regular visitations elsewhere. Why? Because he wants to be President come 2023.
Interestingly, this is the latest sling of accusations thrown against the charismatic and audacious 46-year-old. Ever since he came into gubernatorial power in 2016, it has been one allegation over another. For the first time, however, the accusations have taken the tone of complete abandonment. This is all the more remarkable considering that Bello has declared time and time again his deep and overwhelming disinterest in the top seat.
One of the most recent slurs against Bello came from within his All Progressives Congress (APC), a youth group given to the approbation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This group accused Bello of being the worst Governor in Kogi State history as he had done nothing worthy of commendation or emulation. The accusation came after Bello advised Tinubu to allow the younger generation to lead the country while he (Tinubu) could assist them from the background.
In any case, Bello’s popularity came as a surprise for many considering that he did not feature among the ranks of the most effective state governors as of 2018. One might argue that it was the COVID-19 pandemic (during which time Bello ran against the grain) that brought him to prominence. Unfortunately, this cannot sustain any political ambition, presidential or senatorial. One might also argue that the only thing Bello has going for him is his age and a political party that is seemingly fractured and frazzling.
Ergo, folks are wondering how he will get himself out of the bind, prove that he is still a working governor, and assuage the reported anguish of Kogites.