While Kogi State monarchs were in the Presidential Villa endorsing Governor Yahaya Bello for a second term of office, their youths under the aegis of the Kogi Youth Movement (KYM), a volunteer group of youths from Kogi, on Wednesday rejected the second term ambition of Yahaya Bello
They insisted on direct primary to pick the candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the Nov. 21 governorship election.
A News Agency of Nigeria report said the youths who protested against Bello’s 2nd term ambition at the Unity Fountain arena in Abuja with placards of different inscriptions, said the KYM was adding their voice to the millions of others voices in the state that have rejected the governor’s ambition.
There have been conflicting reports and anger over how the Kogi monarchs came to Abuja, even as Bello’ss own paramount ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, was conspicuously absent. No official reason has been adduced for his absence.
President Buhari was said to have told the monarchs to “go back home and let the citizens of Kogi state decide as power truly resides with the people.”
Secretary of the youth group, Mr Ayuba Abdullahi, told newsmen during the protest that their aim was to ensure good governance and to foster youth development in all its ramifications.
He described Bello’s first term as “disastrous” for youths in Kogi and also kicked against his plan to coerce the traditional institution in the state to support his ambition.
“As youths, we are impressed with APC national leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari for his obvious strides to reposition our nation for the better.
“But it is with great displeasure that we pour out our mind that APC Kogi Chapter is now a centre for impunity, abnormalities and bias, orchestrated by Gov. Yahaya Bello.
“It is with this sense of pain that we decided to cry out to the world most importantly, President Buhari and the APC National Working Committee under the trusted leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; that they may come to our rescue in Kogi.
“The most recent among all of the numerous of problems and issues bedeviling Kogi is the intimidation of our traditional rulers who Gov. Yahaya Bello threatened.
“We want to state emphatically that Bello doesn’t deserve any sympathy because he doesn’t have sympathy for his citizens, hence the national body should disregard his plea to return against the wishes of the masses,” Abdullahi said.
According to him, APC risks losing Kogi, if the governorship ticket is handed over to Bello.
“We promise APC victory, but just change Bello.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the inscriptions on the placards read “All our hospitals are not functioning”, “Workers are owed salary”, “ Comrade Oshiomhole Kogi loves you and we want direct primary,” as well as “PMB come to our rescue