2023 Presidency: Your time has passed – Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello tells Tinubu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Amidst rife speculations that the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is interested in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has rather advised the former Lagos Governor to shelve his ambition and allow younger generation of leaders to govern the country.

Advising Tinubu against contesting for Presidency in 2023, Bello urged the former Lagos State governor to take a back seat and allow youths he has groomed to rule Nigeria.

He, however, noted that though the APC National Leader has the right to contest in 2023, he should step back and allow the youths.

Bello stressed that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic that one or two persons can see as their personal properties.

According to Bello: “Senator Tinubu is one of our leaders and I respect him so much. He has played a very significant role in Nigeria’s democracy and has built a lot of people.

“He has paid his dues, and with all respect, as a son to him, my simple advice is that it is time for him to allow his children to take over the mantle of leadership and do it to the glory of God and his admiration.

“He should see that those children he raised are now doing well. Let him see how we manage this country in his lifetime. However, he has a right to run, nobody is questioning that.”

“Let me tell you that Nigeria is not a banana republic, which a committee of one or two persons will see as a personal estate or property,” Bello said.

Though his Aides had before now denied claims that Tinubu is interested in the 3023 presidential contest, just as he has remained silent on his perceived ambition ahead of the election, however, both his body language and his campaign posters have flooded strategic positions both in Abuja and in some states, including at the APC national Secretariat.