_Samson Nwafor
Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole, alongside seven of his colleagues on Monday visited Ebonyi State to solicit support of the State Legislators for the 2023 presidential ambition of the State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Kolawole who spoke at Ebonyi Speaker’s lodge, said it was the turn of the North Central zone to produce the President of Nigeria.
Kolawole said Governor Bello has performed admirably and won several awards especially on security, which was an indication he could handle the security challenges in the country.
He maintained that Bello was the best candidate to rule Nigeria in 2023.
He explained that the North-Central and South -East regions deserved most consideration for the positions of Nigeria President and Vice President, in 2023.
He added that the two geographical zones had not been given chance to occupy the nation’s Presidency, noted that the support of Ebonyi to the Bello’s 2023 project, would automatically make Governor Umahi become the Vice President.
He further said that the defection of Governor Umahi to the ruling All Progressives Congress, was in the best interest of the region.
He said, “Your people will benefit more. We in Kogi House have robust relationships with the executive arm. For best functionality, you need cordiality with other arms. Our Governor is the youngest and doing well including security.
“We have passed vote of confidence on him. We went further to look at the geopolitical zone in the country. We passed the resolution that our governor should be the first to contest the president in 2023. We feel he can handle this country. Let there be fair sharing in the position. North Central should produce the president in 2023. It’s a notification that our governor will be contesting for the president in 2023. We urged the APC members in the State that the North Central and South East should produce the president and vice president in 2023. We will talk to our party leaders. We should give the young man who is at his peak age to rule Nigeria, Kolawole said.
National Vice Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of Nigeria, (South-East Zone) and Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, in remarks said the state legislators will support the Kogi State Governor, to become President in 2023, should the APC chooses him as Presidential candidate.
However, Ebonyi Speaker noted that based on equity, the South-East zone deserved the presidential position, but would have no option to support anyone chosen by the Party, since according to him, party is supreme.
“I appeal that if the Party zones the presidential position to the South-East zone, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi should be supported to rule the country, while Governor Bello can still be supported to be his Vice President”, he said.