*But advise APC Leader why one solution won’t work for different states
*Explains why President Buhari must re-contest
Some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have taken sides with the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Recall that Oyegun came under attacks from the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, through a memo he wrote to the presidency, accusing the party’s leadership of sabotaging genuine reconciliatory efforts.
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello made the backing of the governors obvious when he spoke to State House correspondents, shortly after a meeting meant to woo President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election in 2019.
The governor noted that they were impressed with the decision of the President to appoint Tinubu to reconcile contending interests in the party.
Bello however posited that one solution may not work for the different states affected.
Tinubu had written to the President, accusing Odigie-Oyegun of sabotaging his reconciliatory efforts by inaugurating a parallel state executive of the party in Kogi.
Asked to comment on the accusation, Governor Bello said: “We the governors and majority of APC members have confidence in our national chairman Chief John Oyegun. We also believe in the President who appointed Bola Tinubu, our leader to reconcile some aggrieved members of our party.
“However, one size fits all will not work in all the states where some erring members need to be disciplined.”
Bello also spoke on why the APC governors were pressing Buhari to run for a second tenure in office.
According to him, the President has done well so far and had put fears in state governors about corrupt practices.
On the justification for the call on the President to re-contest, the Kogi governor stated:
“There are three things. One, he has done excellently well, secondly, on fighting corruption. Even we, among the governors are competing among ourselves to ensure that the little resources available, we utilize for the people. So, corruption is reduced to the barest minimum.
“Next is the revival of the economy, job creation and making sure that average Nigerians are comfortable. Based on these performances, we are urging Mr. President to please run and fly in 2019.
“So, there is nothing more to that. And if you look at it critically, the governors themselves who naturally have immunity, we are very careful because you know that Mr. President is incorruptible.
“If you do, you are going to face the consequences. So, we are careful about that and we are utilizing it.
“You see among ourselves, we are competing among the states to see who does more unlike the previous regime.
“So, we want Mr. President to continue to lead the way so that we can follow and Nigerians will have the dividend of democracy.”
He said Buhari was still consulting with Nigerians and would love to hear from citizens before taking a decision on the 2019 presidential election.
“The President is still consulting and he wants more Nigerians to speak before he can make up his mind. But I am very comfortable that Nigerians will speak loud,” Bello declared.
