ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said he would decide on whether to run for the 2023 presidential election or not within the next three weeks.
He said that before he makes his decision public, he would have consulted widely among various groups he belongs to.
The governor said this when he received the officials and members of the Northern Youth Leaders’ Forum, when they presented a letter to the governor calling on him to run for the presidency at a brief ceremony at the Government House Bauchi on Wednesday.
He said that he received the group’s call to run for the presidency with a burning feeling of fulfilment and accomplishment, adding that he never induced a Kobo but was just hearing his endorsement in the media as a fairy tale even though he knows some high caliber politicians that have been trying to reach the forum.
The governor who sought for time before giving the group his response, said he would have to consult widely with various constituencies he belongs to like the media, the National Assembly, retired civil servants, the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bauchi elders, his party and many others.
He said: “I cannot just go without telling them and getting their blessings. I believe when they look at the issue critically, they may give me the go-ahead to go. But please, allow me to consult in two or three weeks, I will get back to you as quickly as possible. I believe I am still a learner and without these people, I will not go anywhere.
“The moment all these groups agree, this will just be like a wild fire. I am giving you the assurance that I will get back to you in the next two or three weeks and I believe my answer will be positive.”
Governor Mohammed said that even if he does not become President, he counts the group’s endorsement as an honour done to Bauchi, an honour done to him and an honour done to growing politicians in Northern Nigeria.
“This endorsement to me, even if I don’t become anything, to me and my family, my own Constituency, Bauchi, and this is what I will forever cherish since the demise of our father, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who ruled this country with humility and competence.
Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator of NYLF, called on the Governor Mohammed to contest the 2023 presidential election vowing to work against his political interest should he decline the offer.
He said that the decision to endorse the governor to run for the President was taken at the Forum’s 27th Delegates Conference in Yola, Adamawa state, after voting to chose him as their preferred candidate.
“Your Excellency’s endorsement has the finger of God. To This end, we hereby present the letter of endorsement to His Excellency and a call for you to declare your interest to contest the 2023 presidential election under any political party of your choice.
“Your Excellency should therefore consider this as a duty call on him and as such, you have no choice whatsoever to decline the offer. The reason is simple, if you decline the offer, we are going to mobilize and work against your political interest even in your local government.
“We want to pledge our unalloyed support and loyalty to Your Excellency towards actualizing this noble project. We are ever ready to mobilise our 42 affiliated Youth Groups and over 4 million of our members to engage Nigerians to bring to fruition, our expectations in 2023.
“We want to also assure your Excellency that no amount of intimations, frustrations, threats or inducements will make us rescind our resolve and decision. This is our collective standpoint and there is no going back,” Afiyo said.
He said that 27 prominent Nigerians were shortlisted for screening by the group’s Political Committee headed by Dr. Sani Musa their, Zonal Coordinator, South-East/South-South, during their NEC meeting in Gombe.
The National Coordinator added that the forum took interest in him when he defeated a sitting Governor in the Senatorial elections in 2007 and since then, their intelligence committee he headed was commissioned by their patrons to give him a close and concurrent watch.
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