Yahaya Bello vows to relocate to Kano for two weeks, mobilize support for Tinubu

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has vowed to spend two weeks in Kano State mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bello said he was prepared to relocate to Kano and remain there for two weeks, if necessary, to ensure the two leaders secured victory at the polls.

He made the declaration at the Yoruba Political Mobilisation and Empowerment Programme organised by the Leke Abejide Foundation in Kano, where he urged Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities to unite behind the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former governor said he was ready to move beyond political speeches and personally participate in efforts to mobilise voters for Tinubu and Yusuf.

He challenged the communities to demonstrate their political strength, saying their contribution to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election—reportedly nearly 500,000 votes—was insufficient.

Bello said the target should be significantly higher in 2027, expressing confidence that the political network of the programme’s organiser, House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, could mobilise at least two million votes for Tinubu.

He also urged Yoruba and other ethnic communities to support APC candidates across the ballot, including those contesting for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and state assembly seats.

According to Bello, the political influence of non-indigenous communities in Kano should not be underestimated, given their population and established relationships across the state.

“We have a responsibility to mobilise our people and ensure that their votes count,” he said.

Bello also appealed to Northerners to support Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the President should be allowed to complete his constitutionally permitted two terms in office in the interest of political stability.

“After eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, President Tinubu has not even completed his first four-year term. Must he complete his eight years before power returns to the North?” he asked.

Defending the Tinubu administration’s performance, Bello pointed to infrastructure development, particularly the progress on the Kano-Abuja Federal Highway, as evidence of the President’s commitment to the North.

He said he had sent someone to Kano two days before the event to assess the road project, adding that the improved condition of the road had made travelling easier.

Earlier, Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, said Kano remained his home, having lived and established his business in the commercial city for about 34 years.

He said the empowerment programme was an opportunity to give back to the people with whom he grew up and built his business before venturing into politics.

Abejide, who is also the Asiwaju of Yoruba people in Kano, disclosed that N500 million had been set aside as interest-free loans for women organised into cooperative societies to expand their businesses.

He said the beneficiaries included Yoruba women from eight states, as well as members of the Igala and Ebira communities from Kogi State residing in Kano.

The lawmaker added that widows would receive food, clothing and financial assistance, while a separate empowerment programme was being planned for youths and men.

He said the foundation had established a monitoring mechanism to ensure the revolving loans were properly utilised and repaid, allowing other beneficiaries to access the funds.

Abejide urged the beneficiaries and other residents to support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections, describing political mobilisation as a collective responsibility.

In his remarks, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights of non-indigenous communities and ensuring their participation in governance.

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 Kano.

The governor described the Yoruba, Igala and other non-indigenous groups as important stakeholders in Kano’s development, urging them to support Tinubu and APC candidates.

He also commended Abejide for extending his empowerment activities beyond his constituency, saying the initiative showed that leadership and commitment to human development transcended geographical boundaries.

Yusuf assured the communities that Kano would remain their home and that his administration would continue to guarantee their security, peace and participation in the state’s political and economic development.

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