Yahaya Bello and the APC members sitting on bare floor
By Abdullahi Abubakar
A former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has ordered lawmakers from Kogi State and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to sit on the bare floor before addressing them.
This was seen in a viral video making the rounds on social media.
In the video, Yahaya Bello, made newly elected State House of Assembly member, Hassan Shado, and his supporters sit on the floor during a meeting in Abuja.
At the meeting, the former governor warned them to strictly obey every dictate of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in the discharge of their duties.
Bello, who received members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence on Monday, was presented with Hassan Shado, the party’s lawmaker-elect for the Dekina-Okura II State Constituency, who won the August 16 by-election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Shado the winner of the by-election, polling 55,073 votes to defeat Godwin Meliga of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 1,038 votes.
In his address, the former governor tasked Shado with fostering synergy among party members, stressing that political victories were a collective achievement.
Drawing his ear for emphasis, Bello, in the video sighted by SaharaReporters, issued a stern directive to the lawmaker-elect to cooperate with everything in the Assembly, even if he does not understand them.
Bello said, “As you are going in there now, go and cooperate with the Speaker, other members of the House of Assembly of Kogi State, and be part of those that will support Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo; in everything that comes to the Assembly, everything, even if you don’t understand it.”
The former governor said that no candidate can win an election without the backing of loyal party members and grassroots supporters working tirelessly, from nomination to the general election.
“Therefore, I urge you to ensure inclusivity, broad consultation, and collective leadership,” he said.
“You have been declared winner of this election. But remember, it was not by your effort alone.
“Your people stood firmly behind you; they worked for your success. Do not let them down in any way,” Bello stated.
He further called on the people of Kogi East to embrace unity, which he said had been lacking in the past.
