By Yusuf, M.A.
- Says Political Logic Demands Bello Rebuild Credibility at Home Before Boasting of Statewide Control
Alhaji Yakubu Murtala Ajaka has faulted former Governor Yahaya Bello’s remarks at an endorsement rally held in Lokoja on Saturday, where Bello reportedly vowed to deliver Kogi State to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement from his media office, Ajaka described Bello’s boast as deceptive and politically illogical, pointing out that a former governor who could not secure victory in his own senatorial district lacks the moral and strategic ground to claim influence over an entire state.
He recalled that Bello lost his Kogi Central stronghold, comprising five local government areas, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the 2023 elections. According to Ajaka, such a defeat signifies a total loss of grassroots trust, which any seasoned political strategist knows is the foundation of statewide influence.
“It is unfortunate that Yahaya Bello still believes Kogites can be swayed by his usual theatrics and intimidation,” Ajaka said. “President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need intimidation or deceit to earn the trust of Nigerians; in a true democracy, confidence is built through sincerity, accountability, and genuine performance.”
Ajaka added that, from a political strategist’s point of view, it is only logical for a leader who lost his own senatorial district to first rebuild credibility at home before boasting of statewide control.
“One who lost his senatorial district to another political party should return to his base to reestablish relevance, not attempt political abracadabra across the state,” he stated.
He maintained that Kogites have grown politically conscious and will no longer be ruled by fear, manipulation, or propaganda.
“Kogites will vote for leaders with vision, not those who rely on intimidation and self-praise,” Ajaka continued. “When the time is right, credible voices with moral standing will rise, and their message will be louder than the noise of deceit.”
Ajaka concluded that no political theatrics or endorsement rallies can substitute for genuine leadership and service, emphasizing that Kogi’s future now belongs to a conscious generation guided by truth, accountability, and good governance.
Political observers note that Yahaya Bello’s defeat in Kogi Central, his own senatorial district, to PDP’s Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan undermines his political relevance. In strategic terms, a leader who cannot command loyalty within his immediate base cannot credibly promise statewide influence. Analysts view Bello’s endorsement rallies as an attempt to project lost dominance rather than proof of enduring grassroots control.
