Why Opposition Politicians Are Joining APC En Masse in Kogi – Adeleke

374
Spread the love

Political analyst, James Adeleke, has described the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as a brilliant strategist who understands the people he governs so well.

Speaking with our reporter in Lokoja on Friday, Adeleke said the coast is clear for the emergence of Usman Ododo, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November governorship election in the state.

The political analyst said he agreed with the major reasons given by recent defectors to APC in Kogi state is Governor Yahaya Bello’s sterling leadership and unassailable milestones recorded in infrastructural development as well as security.

He, however, added that Governor Bello’s robust understanding of the needs of Kogi electorate and politics makes APC more attractive to opposition party leaders.

“Governor Yahaya Bello is a maverick. He may look unassuming when it comes to politics but the truth is, Bello is miles ahead of his contemporaries when it comes to political engineering. He does not play politics to suit himself but to toe the wishes and aspirations of the people.

“When APC began sale of nomination forms, he gave some of his appointees the nod to join the governorship race. The appointees are from the three senatorial districts in the state. He gave them free hand to galvanize support from across the state while he quietly mined feedbacks from the people of the state about these aspirant. The emergence of Usman Ododo was a result of a referendum by the people of Kogi state.

“The choice of Usman Ododo’s running mate, a primary school teacher, was another political masterstroke that has altered calculations ahead of the November 11 governorship election. The combination of Ododo and Joel Salifu will be difficult to defeat, if not impossible. Both represents current realities in the state and showed the next administration is for people at the grassroots,” he said.

Adeleke commended Bello for being sensitive to almost all the salient issues that has been raging in the state, especially ethnicity, infrastructural deficits and insecurity.

He predicted that opposition political parties will be emptied before the November governorship polls as discerning politicians know where the pendulum will swing to already.


Spread the love