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As the controversy over which zone to produce the next president continue to form the topic of discourse, the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello said what the country needs now is the best candidate that will drive the nation out of its present challenges against looking for zoning formula as a solution.
This is just as he explained that, if the nation must continue with rotation arrangement which he described as unconstitutional, the North central zone should take the shot since, it is the only zone that has not produced democratically elected president and vice president since 1960.
Bello gave the advice at a first Annual GYB Seminar for Nigeria’s political and Crime Correspondents held in Abuja on Friday.
The governor who noted that the myriad of challenges facing the country, it will take only a leadership with youthful , energy and Vitality and imbued with empathy , competence and courage , that can take the Country out of its predicaments.
He stated that on assumption of office in 2016, the state was reputed to be the havens for kidnappers ,armed robbers and violent crimes , but his pragmatic approach with huge investment in the security architecture of the state , stressing that the state is now ranked the most peaceful and secured state in the country.
Bello explained that before he declared his intention to run for the governorship, he had already had a blueprint of how to confront the numerous challenges bedeviling the state, saying when he assumed office it was not too difficult for him to confront the problems with resounding success.
He added that hitherto the state has suffered from challenges of ethnicity, religious and political differences , but he was able to remove the ceiling which has brought unity across all the divides.
According to him, the youth who have often been referred to as future leaders have being galvanised and empowered into positions of higher authority , which resulted into dousing youth restiveness in the state.
He explained further that he set the ground rolling on assumption with the blueprint on five thematic areas of Agriculture, Health , Security , Education and Roads which he said was pursued vigorously that has transformed the critical infrastructures across the state.
He added that , while there were agitations for 35% affirmative action , his government has steadily ensured that women were given more opportunities, hinting that women are the Vice chairman of 21 Local Government Councils even as not less than three women are representing their Constituencies as councilors.
While commending the press for their contributions to the continued existence of the country urged them to report Nigeria for Nigerians , saying it is a patriotic burden for journalist to create a new image for the country.
In a remark , the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ Chris Isuguzo task Journalists to give their best in the service of their fatherland through accurate reportage that could change the negative narratives of the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations.
He commended the organisers for assembling crops of Journalists covering crime and political beats advising the authorities to consider media professionals as strategic partners in the quest for nation building.
