Hafsat Abiola-Costello, the Director-General of the Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation has explained why she chose Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State over other South West aspirants contesting for presidency.
Gatekeepers News reports that Abiola-Costello said she is standing with Governor Yahaya Bello in the race for the All Progressives Congress’ presidential ticket because he demonstrates the kind of qualities Nigeria needs in a leader at the moment.
The daughter of the winner of the 1993 presidential election, late MKO Abiola, added that she has seen in Governor Bello true commitment to the progress of the country.
She further reiterated that, with the ongoing work in the Campaign, she was very sure that her principal would be victorious at the primaries, notwithstanding the political stamina of others in the race.
The DG who said this on Monday while addressing journalists in Lagos ahead of the APC presidential primaries slated for May 30 and 31, in Abuja, noted that Bello was a loyal and respectful person, who would carry everyone along after he emerges.
On economy, she noted that statistics from the World Bank on states accountability rating in Nigeria indicates that Kogi ranks top among other states in the country.
Abiola-Costello said, “This is a man who met a debt profile of about N135bn in Kogi when he assumed office in 2016, but has been able to reduce it to about N70bn. This is addition to his huge investments in education, agriculture, security and infrastructural developments. The World Bank accountability ranking of states in Nigeria evaluated Kogi as 2nd in 2017, 1st in 2018 and 2019.
“The draft report for 2021 shows that Kogi scored 100 per cent in all the areas and from indications, the state will maintain the first position in 2021, judging from the draft report that was released just yesterday.
“I am proud of GYB because of his development records in Kogi. This is a governor that is always looking for progress and the development of lives of his people. This is me, a Yoruba, supporting someone from North Central.
“There is no progress without demands, I lost my both parents, though unfortunately, because Nigerians believed in them. I’ve been working with GYB for a while and I have seen that he has the courage and intelligence to deliver Nigeria.”
The Director-General said the campaign team of Governor Bello had been interfacing with critical stakeholders of APC to present his development credentials, which would be replicated at the federal level.
“Going into the presidential primaries, we are on a good footing. If you plant a good seed very early, you will reap better than those who plant late,” Abiola-Costello added.
