After a keenly contested Presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the emergence of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the standard bearer of the Party in next year’s presidential election, the challenge has shifted to who should be running mate to the Asiwaju. With several options open to the Party and its standard bearer, certain factors, ranging from geopolitical balancing and general acceptability to electoral value and ability to partner with the presidential candidate are vital variables in arriving at the choice of a running mate. Other considerations include verifiable record of patriotism, competence, experience, and party loyalty.
Having contested for the same ticket, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is handy, and for several reasons, best suited to be chosen by the Party as the running mate to the Party’s Presidential flag bearer. As a contender for the presidential ticket, Yahaya Bello certainly came with a vision and programme to develop Nigeria, and take the country to the next level, a paradigm that has been propagated by the Party from inception. Combining his programme of development with the dynamism and pragmatism of the prolific agenda of the Asiwaju presidential manifesto will produce a unique concept that will transform Nigeria to a successful democracy and exemplar of a developed economy.
In the course of campaigning ahead of the Party’s Presidential primary, Yahaya Bello showcased patriotism in the manner he structured his campaign, and the way he appealed to the demographics of the national population. He identified particularly women and youths as the most productive segments of the national population, and factored them into the centrepiece of a national development programme that aimed at eliminating poverty, unemployment, and hunger, by enthroning a welfare programme that arms the youths and women with skills and opportunities to activate and invigorate the national economic production chain. Not unexpectedly, his campaign was well received and warmly embraced by youths, women, and critical stakeholders because of its focus on transformational economics.
As a two-term governor, Yahaya Bello has got an appreciable pedigree; a trajectory that has not only exposed him to the rudiments of state matters, but has put him in pole position to appreciate the fundamentals of nationhood and public administration, including national security, infrastructural development, education, food security, and unity in diversity. Kogi State being a miniature of a culturally plural Nigeria, as a confluence State, not only do Rivers Niger and Benue find a meeting point there, it has been transit and destination point to many Nigerians, which made it possible for the Governor to interact and unite people from various cultures and backgrounds in Nigeria.
There is also the imperative to choose a running mate from the Northern region of Nigeria, since the Presidential candidate is from the Southern part of the country. Yahaya Bello is again in good stead on this note. As a matter of fact, given the location of Kogi State on the map of Nigeria, the choice of Yahaya Bello from North Central Nigeria is strategic and apt as it facilitates understanding and North-South cooperation and consensus.
Another vital ingredient in the debate and consideration of a vice presidential candidate is the connection with the next generation. Yahaya Bello again stands out of the pack. With the mantra of next level, the All Progressive Congress as a political party, has in its ideology and doctrinal outlook emphasized the future and next generation as the basis for its politics, political orientation, and philosophy of governance. It is only in tandem and keeping with its ideological foundation to provide a nexus in its leadership opportunities not only for the youths to be carried along, but for the present to impact on the future through its policies and personnel. Bello has both age and future to his advantage; and stands as a conveyor belt of the present policies and programmes to future initiatives and innovations.
As a two-term governor, Yahaya Bello no doubt has immense electoral value. His campaigns before the presidential primary was massively followed especially by women and youths, a strong indication of his national acceptability which will translate into, and catalyse huge electoral capital for a Tinubu/Bello ticket in the general election. In other words, Governor Yahaya Bello is an asset for the APC to win the next presidential election if he is paired with the Asiwaju as a running mate.
It will simply be stating the obvious that Yahaya Bello is eminently qualified and manifestly competent to be vice president of Nigeria. Both education and experience stand in his favour and honour; with attestation to same available abundantly within and outside the party that he is capable and a worthy choice for the office.
Luckily, the on-going debate and commentary in respect of choice of running mate have de-emphasized the sentiment of religion, and harp more on competence, patriotism, ability to unite, and national consensus building. The mystique about religious balancing in a joint ticket was since demystified by the Abiola/Kingibe joint ticket in the 1993 presidential election. A Tinubu/Bello joint ticket will re-ignite the national warmth that produced the Abiola/Kingibe victory in 1993. With Asiwaju and Yahaya Bello, the All Progressives Congress, APC, will make it again in 2023!
Alhaji Umar Abdullahi
Writes from Jos North LGA,
Plateau State, Nigeria.
