Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello has said calls for him to contest in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election is a distraction, reiterating his commitment to the development of his state.
Mr Bello, through his spokesperson, Onogwu Mohammed, said his administration’s ability to curb insecurity in Kogi State and massive youth empowerment has been attracting support leading to the calls for him to join the 2023 presidential race, a call he does not want to be distracted with.
Mr Mohammed spoke at the ongoing security and economic summit of the Northcentral Governors Forum in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“Nigerians across all divide are calling on the Governor to run for the presidency in 2023 but His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is totally focused and committed to delivering the mandate given to him by the people of Kogi State to run for the second term.
“By January 27, 2021, he will be one year in office, that is for the second term, so he has a lot to do and he has a lot of time to spend with the people of Kogi State to deliver the dividends of democracy to them,” Mohammed said.
He, therefore, called for support to deliver his second term mandate of rebuilding Kogi State.
Bello said the issue of the 2023 presidency should not be put on the front burner and heat the polity and assured that he is focused on his mandate of improved security, economy, and youth employment.