By Kelechi Opara
With barely two days after he stepped down as the governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was strongly rumoured to have concluded arrangements to take over as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). To further give vent to this, the campaign posters of Bello were conspicuously pasted around the National Secretariat of the ruling party.
Despite the fact that Bello has issued a statement distancing himself from the said plot to take over the position of the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, many political watchers still believe that there is more to it than what is seen on the surface.
In a statement issued by the Media Office of Bello captioned ‘Public Disclaimer’, the former governor said it was a clandestine moves by some mischief makers to create confusion within the hierarchy of the APC.
Indeed the statement which was not signed by anyone also blamed the opposition politicians and those it described as 5th columnists within the party as responsible for the posters.
“A part of the plans already being hatched is the circulation of campaign posters with the picture of His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello, CON, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, insinuating that he is contesting for the position of the National Chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress. The insinuation is infantile, false and should be disregarded.
“Our party is not in the process of conducting Congresses or a Convention, therefore, there is absolutely no basis for anyone to circulate any posters for party offices.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello did not authorize anyone to circulate any posters on his behalf as he remains a loyal party man who is committed to the leadership of the National Chairman of the Party, His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Ganduje”.
Before the rebuttal, those sympathetic to the ‘ambition’ of Bello argued that he was the right man the job, given the fact that the position was originally zoned to the North Central where he comes from before the immediate past National Chairman, Sen. Adamu Abdulahi left the office shortly after the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu.
Many observers had thought that another person from the North Central zone was going to replace him, in line with the zoning arrangement of the APC. But surprisingly, that position went to the North West zone. It must be stated that the North West has been adequately compensated for their role in the electoral success of President Tinubu. The zone produced the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the North West produced the Deputy Senate President as well as three cabinet ministers.
But despite their efforts, many top candidates from the North Central zone who showed interest for the plum job were disappointed as the presidency was said to have favoured Ganduje.
The former governor of Kano State was indeed an astute supporter of President Tinubu even during the campaign period which was rumoured to have been the solid reason Tinubu decided to have him compensated with the position at the National Secretariat of the party.
ARGUMENTS FOR
Former Governor Yahaya Bello according to those who helped in selling his candidature to the APC boosts with the argument that he is a very young man who will bring the necessary zeal and energy to run the party which prides itself as the largest and best in Africa.
They believed that the ascendency of Bello would have positively attracted more young people to equally throw their hats into the ring, justifying the ambition and aspiration of the party to have more young people take leadership roles.
Another plus for his interest is that it would have assuaged some elements from the North Central who are still crying of marginalization by the party despite its huge electoral support to the party during the 2023 presidential election. For emphasis, the APC is controlling five out of the six states in the zone including; Niger, Benue, Kwara, Kogi and Nasarawa.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST
Conversely, there are also a lot of reasons the rumoured ambition of Yahaya Bello was seen as dead on arrival.
Despite being a young and vibrant man, many party stakeholders are said not to be at home with the possibility of his position as the leader of the party. Those in this school of thought argue that Bello does not have the maturity to lead the party at the highest level.
Secondly, those who know also believe that Also Rock was not favourably disposed to his emergence because they do not entirely trust him. According to sources, his sins can be traced to the pre-election era when Bello who was then a presidential aspirant was said to have made some negative remarks against Tinubu when the APC governors held a meeting with former President Muhammadu Buhari. In fact, he was said to have stormed out of the meeting when asked to step down for Tinubu. They say political sins are hardly forgiven!
Again, shortly after the election and the consequent appointment of some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) into the administration of President Tinubu, there was the need to appoint other people to fill the vacant positions, but Governor Yahaya Bello allegedly had an open confrontation with the hierarchy of the party.
Apart from the issues raised above, it is not just easy to wake up one day and change the National Chairman of a ruling political party, especially when such Chairman is enjoying the confidence and support of the President.
To change a National Chairman of a political party, there must be a Congress or National Convention of the party where a new leadership would be elected. Another opportunity is of the said Chairman on finding out that he has lost the confidence of the President willingly resigns like the immediate past National Chairman, Adamu Abdulahi did.
There is also the school of thought which believes that Yahaya Bello may soon be a guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly misappropriating public funds while in office.
There is no way the party would want to settle with such a Man especially when he appears not to enjoy the confidence and support of the government in power.
Already, the National Working Committee (NWC) in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Felix Morka did not waste time in responding to the emergence of the posters of Yahaya Bello by reminding him that there was no vacancy at the Muhammadu Buhari house.
All said and done, it is left to be seen how the issue will pan out especially when the party goes to National Convention. Then it will be clearer if Yahaya Bello was serious or on cly bidding for time.
