Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has expressed dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu's 500,000 votes in Kano State during the 2023 presidential election. He believes the voting strength of non-indigenous communities in Kano should not be underestimated. Bello challenged Yoruba and other ethnic communities to work towards delivering a higher number of votes in the 2027 elections for Tinubu and Governor Abba Yusuf.
Bello made these remarks at an empowerment programme in Kano, where he expressed confidence in the mobilisation capacity of Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives. Abejide had challenged Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities in Kano State to mobilise at least two million votes for Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Bello expects Abejide to mobilise at least two million votes for Tinubu in the coming presidential election, saying this should not be limited to the presidential election but also include all APC candidates. He appealed to Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to support Tinubu's re-election bid, arguing that the President should be allowed to complete two terms in office in the interest of political stability.
Bello defended the Tinubu administration's performance, citing progress on the Kano-Abuja Federal Highway as evidence of its commitment to development in the North. He disclosed that he had sent someone to inspect the project and expressed satisfaction with the level of work reportedly achieved.
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, reaffirmed his administration's commitment to inclusiveness, assuring non-indigenous communities of their rights, security, and opportunities to participate in governance. The governor said his administration had made strategic appointments to accommodate different ethnic groups, including special advisers representing Yoruba, Igbo, and northern minority communities.
Yusuf described the Yoruba, Igala, and other non-indigenous groups as important contributors to Kano's economic and social development, urging them to continue participating in the state's political and economic activities. He assured them that Kano is their home and that his administration's doors will always be open to them.
The meeting was an opportunity for Bello and Yusuf to engage with non-indigenous communities in Kano, encouraging them to participate in the state's governance and electoral processes. The discussions highlighted the importance of inclusiveness and the role that non-indigenous communities can play in shaping the state's future.
Key points
- Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello tasks Kano's non-indigenous residents to mobilise 2 million votes for President Tinubu in 2027.
- Bello expressed dissatisfaction with President Tinubu's 500,000 votes in Kano State during the 2023 presidential election.
- Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirmed his administration's commitment to inclusiveness and the rights of non-indigenous communities.
