Delegates of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Kogi State have told the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi that they cant help him out to achieve his presidential ambition come 2023.
The delegates insisted that they already have an anointed candidate which is Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to take over from incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking on behalf of Kogi State APC delegates on Friday when the former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi visited Lokoja to seek their votes ahead of the APC presidential primary, Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward David Onoja while receiving his August visitor said they remain loyal to Governor Yahaya Bello.
He reassured Amaechi that Kogi State remains an APC State, stressing that the success achieved by the party in 2019 will be replicated in 2023.
“Your excellency, it could be recalled that it was very elated that during your thanksgiving, prayers and declaration, when you physically showed your stamina by running round the field, no doubt, the next President must come to the table with physical and mental fitness, because the job and the task at hand is very enormous for the next President.
” His Excellency wants to let you know that he still remains the youngest, and fitted for this great task ahead, with the experience of those of you that are leading in leadership position since the 4th republic began in 1999. The delegates have heard you, you have told them that we should vote correctly for the person that will win. Like you know sir, we are a people of absolute loyalty as a state, and even as a nation.
“We are 100 percent loyal to president Muhammadu Buhari. For those of us that are delegates and foot Soldiers in Kogi, we are loyal to our principal, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello 100 percent. We believe God will give Nigeria the best President that can secure, unite and prosper this country,” he added.
Earlier in his speech, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and presidential aspirant begged Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to step down for him, insisting he is more experienced to occupy the number one seat in the Country.
Amaechi, called on the delegates to prevail on the governor, Yahaya Bello to step down his ambition for elderly people like him.
The former Governor of Rivers State and his entourage which included former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai said though Bello was qualified to contest for the Presidency, he’s still young and should make way for him to become the party’s flag bearer.
“This is the 28th states I will be visiting. I can no longer be called one of the APC aspirants because I have become the leading aspirant.
“I was Speaker at the age of 34, Governor at the age of 42, and a minister in my early 50’s. I have acquired the needed experiences to lead Nigeria.
“I was a former chairman of Speakers forum, two term Chairman of Governorship forum, coupled with my interaction as Presidential DG campaign, I have what it takes to govern a country like ours,” he said.