2023 presidency: My support for Tinubu unshaken – Yahaya Bello

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will convincingly win next month’s election.

Bello, who was featured on Channels Television, Politics on Sunday, said because he believes in the capacity of APC’s standard bearer, he and other leaders in the north were solidly backing Tinubu and working for him to record a landslide.

The governor, who denied the rumour that he was no longer supporting Tinubu, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate and bring to book media houses spreading falsehood.

The governor said he remains committed to the Tinubu and Kassim Shettima ticket, saying he could envision what the duo would do for the country.

Bello said: “I woke up to see that statement in the air. In this particular instance, there is no fire, talk less of smoke. It is totally fake news. It is unfortunate. 

“The current electoral law empowers INEC to investigate news like this and consequently punish anyone who has been found to have gone against the law.”

He said those spreading fake news were indirectly popularising the APC and his candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu.

The governor said: “I contested for the ticket of the party, but God almighty gave it to our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu. And I have been learning from him because he is the general of the game.

“Immediately after the primary, I was the first to openly come out to give my blessing and endorse Tinubu. I believe in him. I study and envision what he would do for this country.

“Those spreading fake news are making the presidential campaign of Tinubu smoother and we are going to deliver overwhelmingly. 

“The victory is going to be supersonic and a landslide for our candidate, party and all other candidates.

“I can tell you that all other APC governors in the north are working together to ensure that we record a resounding victory. All of us from the north, keep fidelity and our promises and we don’t deceive.

“My commitment to Bola Ahmed Tinubu is over 100 per cent and I remain an ardent supporter, mobiliser, campaigner and driver of our leader and the president-in-waiting, Asiwaju Tinubu, and my brother, His Excellency, Senator Kassim Shettima.”

On the fake news, Bello said: “Of course, you can come up with fake news, but it is incumbent on all agencies to quickly take action against perpetrators of fake news.”

He gave the media house 24 hours to retract and tender an unreserved apology for the gaffe it committed.

“I am expecting that the management and that media house (not The Nation) will retract that publication and tender a widespread public apology within 24 hours, else I’ll brief my lawyers to do the needful,’’ the governor warned.