Speaking on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress (APC)
rally in Kogi, Bello said the party has no opposition in the north-central
state.

Bello described Kogi as a stronghold of the ruling party,
adding that the president enjoys overwhelming support among the people.

“Your excellency, Mr president, you don’t even need to come
to Kogi state to campaign in 2027. Don’t do any wahala [trouble] that you want
to come to Kogi state to campaign for a second term. There is no opposition in
Kogi state,” Bello said.

“Those who are making noise somewhere have not seen the
lion. Congratulations Mr president. Every great nation must have a leader that
everybody can gravitate towards.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you are that leader that all
of us shall gravitate towards even after your second term in office.”

The former governor praised Tinubu’s leadership and
commended his administration’s efforts in improving security, expanding
infrastructure, and ensuring increased federal allocations to states.

“We thank Mr president for everything he has done for us in
Kogi: appointments, infrastructure, fighting insecurity, more money and the
rest,” he said.

Bello, who governed Kogi between 2016 and 2024, endorsed
Tinubu and Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi, for re-election.

Ahead of the 2027 polls, several figures in the APC have
declared support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

In August, Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, proclaimed
himself the director-general of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

Bago criticised politicians opposed to the south retaining
the presidency in 2027, urging them to respect the country’s unwritten
principle of power rotation.