Gov.Yahaya Bello and the Oposition Parties
By Collins Mbakwe
Elections have become a compulsory political ritual, and the forthcoming 2023 general elections are no exception.
Opposition political parties in Kogi State have since been as busy as the bees strategizing on how to emerge victorious come 2023.
The buildup to elections is usually electrifying, with scheming and political permutations at their best. Also, it’s common to find political parties putting their house in order by reconciling warring factions to avoid electoral misfortunes and guaranteeing electoral success.
The same applies to individuals who, by their assessment, are suitable for certain positions in the country, ranging from the president to the council’s councillor. And the list becomes endless. Political jingles rent the air. Billboards are not spared either, and the advertising mediums always smile at the bank because it’s harvest time.
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The 2023 elections in Kogi State have again thrown into the political ring titans. Those who feel their name is enough to inspire their political parties to victory. Propaganda and Politics of calumny have not been found missing among the opposition political parties in Kogi State. And this heightened political tension in the past few weeks.
Bello had openly threatened to use firepower on members of the opposition political parties in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He also said political opponents in the state that trespasses would never see the sun again ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Speaking in Ajaokuta after inaugurating a vigilance group in October, Bello said he was standing on the initial threat he made to deal decisively with anyone saying bad things about his administration in the state.
“Be it at the state or the federal level, and you think you have a connection that you can use here in Kogi unless it’s not I, Yahaya Bello, that’s in charge of this government. I want to reinstate that the ‘Ira Chenyin’ I said the other time is something I mean,” the governor said.
“For that, everyone should caution their child, and every child should warn their parents. I mean, what I said the other time firepower. Whoever thinks that the firepower I mentioned in the additional time is a joke, I’m well prepared. Talk is cheap.
“It’s time for elections; all the candidates, all our party flag bearers, from Senate to Reps, to Assembly, are not contesting; I, Yahaya, am the one contesting. So those contesting against them are contesting against me who have chosen them.”
Earlier, Bello threatened members of the opposition political parties, saying he would “show” them.
“Whoever trespasses, if we pick them, he will never sight the sun again. In this coming election, I will show the opposition people who is Yahaya Bello. If there is a white lion and no white lion, we will know in this one,” Bello said in the video obtained by SaharaReporters.
In another video, he bragged that he could handle a gun better than the people he was addressing, despite not being a security agent.
“If I hear any rumour or hear anybody murmuring, even if it’s in the person’s room and I said I want to see the person and you cannot provide him, then be prepared to be the person’s substitute,” he said.
“That’s why I’m saying it loud and clear for everyone. Not just Ihima, not just about Ebira but the whole of Kogi. Because some of those people are prepared to do evil, some are older than me.
“You cannot hold a gun more than me. For that, everyone should receive and disseminate the message. Record and play it for them that I’m ready this time around.”
