At the APC’s state secretariat where the visit was conducted were chairman of the Progressives Governor’s Forum (PGF), who doubles as governor of Kebbi state, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Yobe state governor, Alhaji Mai Malla Bunni and other dignitaries. Also in the entourage is the immediate past governor of Bauchi state, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar.
The PGF chairman said that they were in the state to assure the party leaders and stakeholders of their support for their colleague, Governor Yahaya Bello.
The Kebbi governor described Governor Yahaya Bello as a very energetic young man, whose youthful zest has positioned Kogi on the path of progress and development.
He said that in a recent meeting of governors with representatives of World Bank, they confirmed that based on the excellent performance of Kogi on the Nigerian Erosion and Water Management Projects (NEWMAP), the state would soon access about $27million in the other phase of the projects.
He said that he and the other governors are aware that Governor Yahaya Bello has respect for the APC members and has achieved great feat in the party, confirming that all the stakeholders had worked very hard to achieve such historic feet.
He called on the party stakeholders to continue to believe the party and be a one strong indivisible household so as to continually emerge victorious.
The Kebbi State governor advised recently reconciled members to make further effort to also reconcile some other members who are still not with the party in the progressive interest of the APC in the state.
In his response, Governor Yahaya Bello said that he was highly elated by the visit of the governors and other delegates which he said was an indication of the support he has received from the APC as a party.
He said that whatsoever feat the APC has achieved in the recently concluded general and state assembly elections was a tip of the ice berg as compared to what would be witnessed in the forthcoming governorship polls.
He said that his administration has done very well in securing the people of the state, particularly integrating the seemingly divided ethic group to become one united front.
The chairman of the APC in the State, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, thanked all the visiting governors for finding the time to come to the state, adding that the APC members had gathered to rejoice with one another over the recent achievements of the party.
He said that Governor Yahaya Bello built and groomed the APC to a winning machine in the state even as he said that when he became the chairman of the party in the state, the governor, being an all inclusive personality, charged the executives to reconcile all aggrieved parties and on the long run such drive has since yielded good fruits as the party has become a one big strong family.
He said that state party stakeholders in a previous meeting unanimously adopted indirect primaries format for its primaries owing to the success which the format offered in the last general and state assembly noting that a ‘winning team does not change formula.’
