Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has called on youths to shun religious sentiments and vote candidates who have what it takes to better their lots.
Speaking at a town hall meting of youths and women across the state in Lokoja on Thursday, Bello stated that the All Progressive Congress APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima posses the attributes of leaders that can move the country to enviable level of economic and infrastructure development.
He advised Nigerians to shun issue of religion in political activities of the country, stressing that the search for good governance and economic development should be the concern of every citizens of Nigeria.
Speaking on APC’s Muslim – Muslim presidential ticket, Governor Bello, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pharmacist Abdulkarim Jamiu Asuku, said the decision for the choice of the ticket should not be seen as being orchestrated to undermine the Christian faith.
“Nigerians should not be afraid of Muslim-Muslim ticket. Our presidential candidate will not Islamize the country. His wife is a Pastor and he has never raise an eyebrow over it. The ticket is for development, job creation and economic emancipation of our people.
“I am advising you not to listen to opposition parties lies, they just want to deceive you , but you should bear in mind that what the nation need now is a leader that can develop the country without sentiments of religion and ethnicity.
“On human capital, economic and infrastructure development no candidate among the arrays of candidates from other political parties contesting the forthcoming presidential election that can match Tinubu’s pedigree in terms of performance,” he said.
He pointed out that the presidential candidate of APC has done a lot in Lagos when he held sway as the governor of Lagos state, saying Tinubu’s antecedent would give him the victory to take over the leadership of the country in the month of May 2023.
“Election is around the corner. Election in Nigeria today is local, there is no election on social media. Therefore, I am urging members of our party the APC to ensure that they embark on door to door campaign so that they can galvanize votes for the candidates of the party from top to bottom,” he said.
In a paper presented by the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja , Dr Usman Salisu Ogbo, charged youth to take the destiny of their lives into their hands by not allowing unscrupulous politicians to use them as political thugs.
He advised them to vote for a candidate that would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and women, saying APC presidential candidate has been tested and trusted as a former governor of Lagos state.
Earlier in his address, the state youth leader of the APC, Comrade Muhammed Uba Muhammed, said that the massive turn out of Youths and women for the town hall meeting had reassured the party of their commitment and dedication toward victory at the end of the general elections.
“This historic gathering will offer Kogi youths the opportunity to engage those who are seeking to represent them at different spheres of government in the forthcoming general elections.
“The theme of the town hall meeting which is youth and political participation in an evolving democracy was organized by the State Youth Leader which was meant to brainstorm and strategize ahead of next month general elections.
The youth leader, however, charged the youths to put more efforts in mobilizing party faithful to boost the chances of all candidates who are contesting on the platform of the APC in Kogi State.
He commended the executive Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, for his confidence in youths through his administration, noting that since inception of his government, the governor had always given the youths the opportunity to serve.
