Former Kogi State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kogi Central, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has said he used legal and political means to prevent the Federal Government under late President Muhammadu Buhari from selling the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company during his tenure as governor.
Bello stated this while addressing supporters during his consultation tour of Ajaokuta Local Government Area ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said he considered the steel complex a strategic national asset that must be preserved for the people.
The former governor, who received a tumultuous welcome in Okene on Tuesday, took his consultation tour to the three districts of Ajaokuta LGA – Eganyi, Ebiya and Ajaokuta – where he met traditional rulers, political leaders, stakeholders and supporters in several wards, including Adogo, Ebiya, Ganaja and Geregu.
His first point of call was the palace of the Ohi of Ajaokuta, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Isah Musa Achuja, where traditional council members from Eganyi and Ebiya districts had gathered to receive him.
Bello paid homage to the monarch and sought royal permission to enter the land and interface with the people.
The royal father prayed for him and recounted what he described as his achievements as governor, while pledging to mobilise his subjects to support and reward Bello for his contributions to Ajaokuta and Kogi State.
From the palace, the APC candidate proceeded to meet political associates and supporters, who welcomed him with solidarity chants.
Bello introduced APC candidates for the 2027 elections, including Hon Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, House of Representatives candidate; Hon Moses Aguva and Hon Aliyu Akaba Mustapha, State Assembly candidates; and Hon Haruna Ganaja, chairmanship candidate.
He called on the people to support the APC ticket and canvassed votes for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The former governor later proceeded to Ajaokuta District, where people from Ganaja and neighbouring communities converged to receive him.
He thanked the people for their steadfastness and announced plans for a mega rally in Ajaokuta as part of efforts to strengthen unity and mobilisation ahead of the elections.
Bello also visited the palace of the Anaja Gaku of Ganaja, where other traditional rulers from Ajaokuta District had gathered to receive him and offer royal blessings.
Those who accompanied him included Senator Abubakar Sadiq Ohere; his former Chief of Staff, Pharmacist Jamiu Asuku; Kogi State Auditor-General for Local Government, Hon Siyaka Yakubu Adabenege; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Abdullahi Bello (Dollar); former Accountant-General of Kogi State, Hon Momoh Jibril; Kogi APC chairman, Engr Momoh Ezzu Aliyu; and Hon Kashim Abdulbasit Adarehi, among others.
The consultation tour is expected to continue across other local government areas in Kogi Central Senatorial District in the coming days.
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