Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi state say he will defeat whoever will confront in the 2023 Presidential election if his name is on the ballot paper.
He made this declaration over the weekend in a chat with select journalists on the trending issues in the polity.
Speaking on his presidential ambition in 2023, Bello, said it was time for politicians to think of the survival of Nigeria first.
He said if it is the will of God that he should be president in 2023, he will be.
He said APC has no zoning formula in its constitution or the agreement that gave birth to merger talks.
He said the party’s presidential primaries should be open to all the six geopolitical zones in the country.
He however expressed confidence that he will defeat any aspirant at the presidential primaries if there is a level playing field.
He said: “People are saying I am going to contest for the Presidency in 2023. My response simply is this: it is the will of God that I became governor today and I am in my second term. If it is the will of God that I’ll be the President of this country, at the nick of time or at the right time, I will be.
“Let me tell you, winning the election at the primaries as a governor or as an aspirant is not the problem. If a level playing field is provided, I will defeat anybody. I will defeat whoever will confront me on the field that day whether direct or indirect primaries or at the convention. I am confident of that, In Sha Allahu.
“If I’m on the ballot for 2023, I will defeat whoever will confront me. In fact, I am going to record votes that we have never recorded in the history of Nigeria by the grace of God. The margin is what we will be talking about.
“But that is not the issue. What is the issue? The issue is about Nigeria before we talk of 2023. As I speak with you, and I make bold to say it, people are afraid, leaders are afraid. Those who have held the country down, who are still holding the country down today, are afraid. They know I know them. They know I am seeing them. They are afraid that if I should occupy the seat, they will atone for their atrocities. Gaskiya ne (that is the truth)”
Asked to state his position on zoning, Bello said: “There is no zoning arrangement in our party (APC). None that is existing that I know. I don’t think anywhere in the part of our constitution (APC Constitution) there is any arrangement there.
“And in any case, even if there is that understanding on issue of zoning, how much has zoning helped us in this country? For once, let us look for who can fix the problems and then all of the positions can be zoned to satisfy political interests for balancing, for fairness. We can do that. Let the best come.”
