APC my home, Governor Yahaya Bello my brother

The immediate past Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo has described the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello as his brother and the party as his home.

He was speaking on Thursday at the party’s secretariat in Lokoja when the state played host to the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum in Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu who came to Kogi State in company of his Yobe State counterpart, Mai-Mala Buni and the immediate past Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar who were in the state in solidarity with Governor Bello.

Alhaji Ametuo advised those who thought he would contribute to the downfall of the party in the state against the backdrop of the November governorship poll to think again because Governor Yahaya Bello remained his brother.

Besides that, he stressed that he contributed immensely to the party’s victory in the past, saying his hard work and commitment led to the emergence of APC as the ruling party in Kogi State, adding that he would not be part of those trying to put spanners in the party’s works.

While expressing gratitude to the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Hon Edward Onoja for prevailing on him to sheath his swords for the progress of the party, he admitted the intervention had shown the sincerity and genuineness of government intentions from the onset.

The state party chairman, Hon Abdullahi Bello had, in his opening remarks described the day as one in which APC leaders and members were gathered to celebrate the party’s achievements, saying Governor Bello made the day possible because he had singlehandedly transformed the APC in Kogi State into a winning machine.

He also recalled that the Governor had charged the excos under him to reconcile all aggrieved members to demonstrate his commitment to peace and progress of the party, a charge that, according to the Chairman, had produced fruitful results with many hitherto aggrieved members returning to the party.

He said the Governor had never depended on media spins that members of the opposition are banking on as he goes about his projects, saying the intention of Governor Bello had been to touch the lives of the people positively and allow his achievements to do the talking.

Speaking, the senator representing Kogi East at the National Assembly, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho blamed some of the disagreements being experienced in the party to the trust invested by Governor Bello on the wrong individuals who he had committed huge resources to see to their upliftment.

Despite the challenges, the Senator made it expressly clear that Governor Bello was the choice of the people, and that the mode of primaries agreed to by party Stakeholders and Kogi State APC members of executive was the indirect format for the election.

On his part, former senator of Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi had told the gathering that Governor Bello was the hope of the other minority area of the state where he hails, and said a support for the Governor was a support for themselves.

According to Adeyemi, the Governor had done extremely well within the resources available to him, stressing that he has recorded tremendous achievements and equitably distributed resources to the people of Kogi State.

He gave the example of the Rice Mill in Ejiba in Yagba West Local Government Area of the state which is one of the largest in the country among other projects, saying the venture might not have been possible without the Governor at the helm of affairs.

Other speakers also lauded the state Governor for his commitment to affecting the lives of Kogites positively and called on the party at the national level to do all that they can to ensure Yahaya Bello flew the flag of the APC in the November governorship poll.