Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has called on Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities in Kano State to increase their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bello said the nearly 500,000 votes Tinubu received in Kano during the 2023 presidential election were not enough, urging the communities to work towards delivering at least two million votes for the president in the next election.
According to reports, the former governor made the call on Saturday at a Yoruba Political Mobilisation and Empowerment Programme organised by the Leke Abejide Foundation in Kano State.
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He expressed confidence in the political mobilisation capacity of Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives representing Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State.
Bello urged the communities to extend their support beyond the presidential election to other APC candidates contesting for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and state assembly seats.
Bello Calls for Support for Tinubu’s Second Term
The former governor also appealed to Northerners to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that the president should be allowed to complete two terms in office.
Bello questioned why the presidency should return to the North before Tinubu had completed his constitutionally permitted eight-year tenure.
He also defended the Tinubu administration’s performance, particularly in infrastructure development, citing progress on the Kano-Abuja Federal Highway as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to the region.
Bello said he had sent someone to Kano shortly before the event to assess the road project and expressed satisfaction with the reported improvement in road conditions.
Abejide Announces N500 Million Interest-Free Loans
Earlier, Abejide announced that his foundation had set aside N500 million in interest-free loans for women organised into cooperative societies to support their businesses.
The lawmaker said the initiative was designed to assist women from Yoruba communities across eight states, as well as members of the Igala and Ebira communities from Kogi State living in Kano.
He also announced plans to provide food, clothing and financial assistance to widows, while a separate empowerment programme was being planned for youths and men.
Abejide explained that the initiative was motivated by his longstanding relationship with Kano, where he said he had lived and conducted business for about 34 years before venturing into politics.
He urged beneficiaries and other residents to support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections, describing political participation as a collective responsibility.
Abba Yusuf Assures Non-Indigenous Communities
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights of non-indigenous communities and ensuring their participation in the state’s development.
Yusuf said his administration had appointed special advisers representing Yoruba, Igbo and northern minority communities as part of efforts to promote inclusiveness.
He added that the government would consider extending similar representation to Igala and other communities living in the state.
The governor described the Yoruba, Igala and other non-indigenous groups as important stakeholders in Kano’s economic and social development.
He also commended Abejide for extending his foundation’s empowerment activities beyond his constituency and assured residents that his administration would continue to promote peace, security and equal participation in governance.
As political activities gradually build towards the 2027 general elections, Bello’s call for two million votes highlights efforts by APC supporters to strengthen the party’s support base in Kano State.
Source: TheCable, New Telegraph
