Kogi Governor and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Yahaya Bello, has accused the Northern APC Governors Forum of “gang up”.
He also warned that any attempt by the party leadership to exclude him from participating in the presidential primary is a recipe for “big trouble” in the party.
Persecondnews had earlier reported that the Bello alongside the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and Chief Emeka Nwajiuba were among those excluded from the party’s primary by the NWC.
Bello, who gave the warning on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, declared that any attempt to prevent him from participating in the primary election will be resisted.
On the issue of power shift to the South and the pruning of aspirants to five, he said: “I am a free citizen and a qualified member of the party. I am contesting. I bought the form, was cleared to participate in the primary election and there is no reason for me to be excluded from the ballot.
“If they do so, then that is a recipe for a bigger trouble for the party.
“However, I don’t think it is a decision of the party. It is a decision of few elites who may decide to use their position to oppress the so called minority.
“But I want to prove that in this country, I am not in the minority. I belong to the younger generation and Nigerians that are oppressed and are saying that their voice must be heard.
“I believe strongly that getting into that arena today, I will win overwhelmingly if the process and normal regulations are followed, I will emerge victorious.”
Further speaking, the governor noted that he did not support power rotation, adding that he was never consulted by his colleagues (the Northern Governors) before the decision was taken.
“I am a unifier, I have demonstrated that severally in my state and in carrying out various tasks that I was given by the party.
“So, nobody consulted me over the decision that power be shifted to the south and I would say they were enrolled by a certain interest that wants to be the Vice President at all costs.
“I continue to oppose the issue of turn by turn presidency because the insecurity that is facing us today does not respect that.
“Every part of this country is faced with insecurity and wants prosperity and we want unity in this country, which is what I stand for. Who should be able to solve that problem is what should occupy our minds now, not rotational presidency,” Bello said.
Bello insisted that only President Buhari can prevail on him to stepdown, adding that the President has not asked any aspirants to stepdown.
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