Traditional rulers from Kogi State, led by the Attah of Igala, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni, have begged President Muhammadu Buhari to support Governor Yahaya Bello of the State in his bid for a second term of four more years in office.
The royal fathers who stormed the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, June 19, told news men after a closed door meeting with the president: “we had to reintroduced our governor to the president. Some people in the social media are already saying we are playing politics: we are not playing politics. We are being realistic. When you are realistic you say things as they are.
“We came to reintroduced our governor to the president and demanded for normal support since they belong to the same party. The issue of endorsement is here. The people at home have already endorsed his excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for second term, so we don’t need to re-endorsed him in Abuja here. All we needed to do was to re-present him to the President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of Nigeria. So we are very happy that Mr.
President received us very well and the traditional rulers have reconfirmed their support for both the federal and state governments.
“And we are happy to announce too because our governor announced it here, that the last tranche of bailout of fund of about N30.8 billion has been approved. So the issue of salary arrears, allowances and pensions will be put to rest by His grace before the elections.
“So we are confident that we are going to have good deals with this federal government and by the grace of God, since we are supporting Mr. President, it is natural and normal for him to lay us back in the right coins. So we are happy to announce to our people at home that Mr. President has promised to treat us very well.”
Speaking to news men also, Governor Yahaya Bello swore that he was not the one that led the royal fathers to the President, but “the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni, the President of Kogi State Council of Chiefs.
“I am just a messenger who took the message to Mr. President to secure this appointment and as their son, I just needed to accompany them on this visit. As earlier stated, Mr. President in his usual manner of receiving everybody, gave us very warm reception and appreciated what we are doing in Kogi State.”
