Senator Jibrin Isah of Kogi East Senatorial district has thrown his weight behind the presidential ambition of governor Yahaya Bello calling on all people of the state to rally round him.
The senator popular called Echocho made the declaration on Thursday at the government House in Lokoja, during the state All Progressive Congress, APC, stakeholders meeting held to deliberate on the ongoing registration/revalidation exercise for the party.
The senator likewise said the state APC should Support the deputy governor, Edward Onoja as a replacement for the Governorship seat, after Bello must have gotten the national job.
Echocho who spoke onbehalf of the senators from the state said they have watched the governor’s achievements and style of governance, and comes to the conclusion that he (Bello) deserve the presidential seat.
He said Bello ticked all the right boxes for the national assignment and deserve to take a shot at the presidency. He called on the state party and the people of the state in general to support Bello presidential’s ambition.
Echocho however apologized on behalf of Senator Smart Adeyemi of the West and his Central counterpart, Senator Oseni, said the duo would have been in the meeting but were held back by the traffic jam along Lokoja – Abuja highway.
On the same line, Echocho advised that the party should considered Deputy governor Edward Onoja when the time comes, said Onoja has paid his due, stressing that “One good turn deserve another.’
The statement however elicited reactions from stakeholders from the Western and Central Senatorial axis who felt the senator has derailed from the main point.
Those who spoke after the meeting expressed disappointment, that the deliberation, which should have centered on galvanizing supports towards a successful party registration exercise which could help the governor’s Presidential ambition is taking a new ethnic dimension.
“I don’t think it is right to be discussing this kind of issue now. The east has governed the state for 16 years with the central just carrying out their second term, while the west has not even taking a single shot.,” One of the stakeholders reacted after the meeting.
The stakeholder stressed, “Suffice to say that the senator’s statement is a distraction to the main issue of galvanizing the state supports for the governor presidential ambition. It is quite disappointing that someone of such standing, or anybody for that matter could be harbouring such thoughts.”
