The forum of APC state legislatures in the North Central, has encouraged Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi not to entertain fears in his desire to become Nigeria’s president in 2023.

This is contained in a communiqué at the end of an extraordinary meeting of the forum on Thursday in Abuja read by the former Speaker of Niger House of Assembly, Mr Ahmed Marafa.

“The State Assembly Legislators of the North Central endorse and state their unalloyed and unshaking support for the aspiration of the young and ebullient Gov. Yahaya Bello, who has against all odds decided to take the bull by the horn, by Aspiring to the office of the Presidency of Nigeria come 2023.

“The members thank him for leading the clarion call for the presidency of Nigeria to come to the North central Zone and urge him to have no fear or doubt in his race for the exalted office as members of the North central zone are solidly behind him,” he said.

Marafa said that the forum agreed that it was the turn of north central to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023

He said that the forum passed a Vote of Confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari for his sterling and cohesive leadership of Nigeria through thick and thin.

Marafa said that the also passed a Vote of Confidence on Gov. Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) for positively repositioning of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging it to do more.

The Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, Mr Matthew Kolawole, earlier in his welcome address said that since the country’s independence only the north central has not produce an elected president or vice president.

Kolawole said that the zone had been marginalised, neglected and missing on the leadership map of the country in spite of the continued pivotal role it has played in stabilising the country.

“There is no gainsaying that the zone is blessed with credible and prominent personalities who have contributed and still contributing to the overall development of the country.

“Hence the zone should be given the opportunity to produce the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Kolawole said.

The speaker called on all elected/appointed political office holders at all level and people of the zone irrespective of party affiliation to support the agitation for the North Central presidency in 2023.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, the North Central meets all the factual, statutory and equitable requirements to contest for the office of the president of Nigeria in 2023 and we shall not settle for less.”

He urged the APC leadership not to zone the position of the national chairman of the party to the zone.

“We are interested in and will be making strong bids for the next President of Nigeria,” he said.

Kolawole urged the lawmakers and leaders of the zone to support Bello’s ambition to lead Nigeria in 2023.

He said that Bello has the antecedents, qualities to lead the country adding that his unprecedented performance in the area of security, economy, good governance, youths/women inclusiveness in governance, infrastructure and human capital development were also visible.

“I hereby call on our colleagues to endorse him as the north central candidate for the President.

“It will be good to note that Bello has proven to be a courageous and bold individual that has shown capacity and will to deal with issues as they present themselves without political, religious and tribal colouration which was hitherto the case in the past.”

Kolawole appreciated Buhari for providing purposeful leadership for the country.