2023 Kogi Guber: Bello promises peaceful election, says Ododo not related to him

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has promised that the govenorship election in Kogi State would be most peaceful ever held in the State, come November, 11, 2023.

He gave the assurance on Friday to the people of Kogi State and Nigerians, while he also stated that he has no blood relationship with Ododo Usman Ahmed, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said the propaganda of Ododo’s relationship to him was the handiwork of opposition in the State, while he insisted that the APC candidate emerged based on merit, through a keenly contested, free and fair election.

Bello stated this at the 3rd Governor Yahaya Bello, GYB Seminar for Nigeria’s political and crime correspondents/Editors in Abuja.
He claimed that the APC’s governorship candidate in Kogi election is the most popular and loved by the people, hence, nothing contrary would be done to derail the election.

“Ododo has endeared himself to the people of Kogi. How can you be the most popular candidate, positioned to win and still instigate violence?” He asked.

“Ododo and I may come from the same place but we do not share any blood relationship whatsoever. Do your findings.

He is a very compassionate, hardworking and competent fellow and those qualities spoke for him at the primaries,” he added.
Bello said his administration was focusing on riding the state of ethnic sentiments that has taken the state backwards before he became governor.

“Ethnic sentiments set Kogi back for 19 years and we must break away from that for competence. My administration has changed the narrative of ethnicity and has been appointing and working with competent people as against choosing people from tribes in the state.

“We raise people from different backgrounds, irrespective of their senatorial zones,” he added.

Earlier, the Kogi Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said no blood would be shed because of an election.
Fanwo said that security remained key to the state and therefore the government would not be distracted from the path of peace.