The truth about Yahaya Bello, popularity, and the fear of his influence
The recent coordinated attacks, open letters, and alarmist statements allegedly issued by faceless “pressure groups” against the possible emergence of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the 2027 Kogi Central senatorial race are not only dishonest but betray deep panic, political insecurity, and fear of his towering influence.
Let us state the facts clearly, boldly, and without equivocation.
1. Governor Ododo’s public call says it all
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo the undisputed leader of the state and, by extension, the political leader of Kogi Central publicly called on religious leaders and traditional rulers to prevail on Yahaya Bello to run for the Senate.
This is not rumour. This is not speculation. This is a public, on-record call by the sitting governor.
Beyond that, key members of both the Yahaya Bello political family and the Ododo administration continue to appeal to him to contest, even as he has not yet accepted the plea.
This singular reality completely demolishes the lie that Yahaya Bello lacks grassroots acceptance. You do not beg an unpopular man. You beg only a man whose entry can alter political destiny.
- The noise is proof of fear, not strength
The so-called Kogi APC Renaissance Forum and similar groups are faceless, opportunistic, and jittery. Their sudden activism is not driven by concern for APC, anti-corruption, or party unity it is driven by fear of Yahaya Bello’s enduring relevance and mass appeal in Kogi State and beyond.
If Yahaya Bello were truly politically irrelevant, as they desperately claim, why the panic? Why the lengthy press statements? Why the dire warnings?
History teaches us that political propaganda intensifies only when a formidable figure looms.
- Legal allegations are not convictions
Attempts to criminalize Yahaya Bello through ongoing court cases are both mischievous and intellectually dishonest. Allegations remain allegations until proven by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy, not mob justice. Yahaya Bello, like every Nigerian, enjoys the presumption of innocence. Ironically, many of those shouting loudest today applauded candidates facing similar or worse allegations when it suited their ambitions.
This selective morality exposes their hypocrisy.
- Kogi Central is bleeding from weak representation
Let us speak plainly.
Okehi Local Government currently holds the Kogi Central Senate seat, and under the present occupant, the district has suffered unprecedented political embarrassment, weak visibility, and loss of relevance at the national level.
Kogi Central has been reduced to ridicule where it should command respect.
The truth many fear to admit is this:
With Yahaya Bello as Senator, Kogi Central will immediately reclaim its rightful position politically, legislatively, and strategically.
His presence alone would restore influence, dignity, and bargaining power to the district.
That is why the opposition is terrified.
- Yahaya Bello is a trailblazer the People genuinely love
Yahaya Bello is not a manufactured politician. He is a trailblazer, the youngest governor in Nigeria’s history at the time of his emergence, a two-term governor, a former presidential aspirant, and a national party mobilizer.
His political base is organic, not rented. The love for Yahaya Bello cuts across: Youth, Women, Traditional institutions, Party structures, Grassroots mobilizers.
You can not erase such a footprint with press releases.
- The “National Figure” Argument Is a Weak Excuse
The argument that Yahaya Bello is “too big” for the Senate is both elitist and deceptive. Nigeria’s history is replete with national figures who served in the Senate and used the platform to shape national discourse.
Senators are not political retirees; they are lawmakers with constitutional powers.
If Yahaya Bello chooses to serve, it is service, not regression. Leadership is defined by impact, not by titles.
- The final truth
The coordinated resistance against Yahaya Bello’s possible senatorial ambition confirms one thing unmistakably:
Yahaya Bello remains the most feared, most influential, and most politically valuable figure in Kogi Central politics today.
That is why:
He is being begged to run
He is being attacked preemptively
He is being dragged into manufactured controversies
Yet, despite all this, he has not even declared interest.
That alone should humble his critics.
Yahaya Bello does not need propaganda to validate his relevance. His record, his reach, and the panic of his detractors already do that.
Whether or not he eventually accepts the call to serve, one fact remains unassailable:
Yahaya Bello is loved by his people, feared by his opponents, and central to the political destiny of Kogi Central and Kogi State.
Anything else is noise.
– Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene.
