Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has vowed to spend two weeks in Kano State to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bello said he would personally relocate to Kano and remain in the state for two weeks if necessary to ensure that Tinubu and Yusuf secure victory at the polls.
He made the declaration at the Yoruba Political Mobilisation and Empowerment Programme organised by the Leke Abejide Foundation in Kano, where he called on the Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities to unite behind the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former governor said he was prepared to take the mobilisation campaign beyond political speeches and personally participate in efforts to deliver the two leaders.
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He challenged the communities to demonstrate their political strength, insisting that their contribution to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election—when they reportedly delivered nearly 500,000 votes—was not good enough.
Bello said the target should be substantially higher in 2027, expressing confidence that the political network of the programme’s organiser, House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, could mobilise at least two million votes for Tinubu.
He also urged the Yoruba community and other ethnic groups to extend their support to all APC candidates, including those contesting for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and state assembly seats.
According to him, the political strength of non-indigenous communities in Kano should not be underestimated, given their numerical presence and established relationships across the state.
“We have a responsibility to mobilise our people and ensure that their votes count,” he said.
Bello also appealed to Northerners to support Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the president should be allowed to complete his constitutionally permitted two terms in office in the interest of political stability.
“After eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, President Tinubu has not even completed his first four-year term. Must he complete his eight years before power returns to the North?” he asked.
He defended the Tinubu administration’s performance, particularly in infrastructure development, citing the progress on the Kano-Abuja Federal Highway as evidence of the president’s commitment to the North.
Bello said he had sent someone to Kano two days before the event to assess the progress of the road project, adding that the quality of the road had significantly improved travelling conditions.
Earlier, Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, said Kano remained his home, having lived and established his business in the commercial city for about 34 years.
He said the empowerment programme was his way of giving back to the people with whom he grew up and built his business before venturing into politics.
Abejide, who is also the Asiwaju of the Yoruba people in Kano, disclosed that N500m had been set aside as interest-free loans for women organised into cooperative societies to expand their businesses.
He said the beneficiaries comprised Yoruba women from eight states, as well as the Igala and Ebira communities from Kogi State resident in Kano.
The lawmaker added that widows would receive food, clothing, and financial assistance, while a separate empowerment programme was being planned for youths and men.
He said the foundation had established a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the revolving loans were properly utilised and repaid so that other beneficiaries could also benefit.
Abejide urged the beneficiaries and other residents to support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections, describing the political mobilisation as a collective responsibility.
In his remarks, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights of non-indigenous communities and ensuring their participation in governance.
He said his administration had appointed special advisers representing Yoruba, Igbo, and Northern minority communities as part of efforts to promote inclusiveness.
Yusuf added that the government would consider extending similar representation to the Igala and other communities living in the state.
The governor described the Yoruba, Igala, and other non-indigenous groups as important stakeholders in the state’s development, urging them to support Tinubu and APC candidates.
He also commended Abejide for extending his empowerment activities beyond his constituency, saying the initiative demonstrated that leadership and commitment to human development transcend geographical boundaries.
Yusuf assured the communities that Kano would remain their home and that his administration would continue to guarantee their security, peace, and participation in the state’s political and economic development.
