Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has pleaded with Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying his re-election is in “the best interest of Nigerians”.
The governor, who spoke through a statement by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the country is witnessing progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
According to him, it is taking a lot of efforts to “rescue the country from the deep pit of economic mess” which previous administrations put it.
The statement reads: “We were here during the previous administration, and we saw what our country went through. Revelations in courts and from anti-graft agencies have shown us how bad the country was exposed to economic woes.
“President Muhammadu Buhari came and has continued to do his best to sanitise the country and relaunch it on the map of international reckoning.
“It takes more time to rebuild than to destroy. For our President to have achieved this much is magical and laudable. In the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, President Buhari should continue to lead our country beyond 2019”.
Governor Bello said those opposed to Buhari’s re-election were only “exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression”.
According to him, they are not “necessarily speaking the minds of millions of Nigerians who were at the receiving end of bad governance, corruption and terrorism before the rescue mission of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
He added: “Anybody is free to form associations to pursue interests, provided the associations are not injurious to the laws of the land. Anyone is free to air his or her views; that remains one of the beautiful gains of our Government of Change.
“In the recent past, airing such views, even within the space of our democratic dispensation, was considered an affront on the country. Today, fundamental rights are freely exercised.
“However, Nigerians have continued to show their solidarity with the President. He will easily win again in 2019”.
Bello called for prayers for Nigeria to continue to live in peace and harmony.
