Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a cancerous party that needs urgent treatment.
Bello said this at the weekend while fielding questions from State House correspondents shortly after he was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Kogi stars by chairman of the party Mr Adams Oshiomhole.
“If you monitor all their activity of the PDP in Kogi state, at the ones I know of right from the award congresses to the local government congresses, to the state congresses, it has always been marred or characterized with violence, guns, maiming of each other and all kinds of attacks.
“So, the outcome of that of the last primaries they conducted shouldn’t take anyone by surprise. We have a larger number of delegates in Kogi state. We started our exercise early enough and finished early enough in peace. I am not a member of PDP, I wouldn’t go in there and conduct it for them.
“So, it is their character, it is their stock in trade and that is what they are known for and so should rather look inward rather than pointing accusing fingers outside.
“When you have a cancer and you don’t treat it but rather you are treating malaria, you will never get rid of cancer. So that the problem the PDP has, they have cancer and should treat the cancer and shouldn’t look outside,” he said.
Bello also told journalists that the APC would work tirelessly to ensure victory at the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the state.
He said the party would not take anything for granted in the November polls, stressing that the party would approach the election with all seriousness.
“I am not just preparing now, I have been ready for this election even before the last general election that produced Mr. President, the National Assembly and the state houses of assembly. So, we are well prepared for the election. As for victory, I think by the grace of God it is assured.
“We are not going to take anything for granted. Whether the candidate of the opposition party is strong or not, we will approach the election with all about of seriousness and ensure that it is conducted freely and fairly and we will become victorious by the grace of God. On November 17, we will be announced the winner,” he said.
The governor also dismissed insinuations that his administration was owing salaries, saying the state government is up to date on payment of salaries and entitlements of workers.
“The citizens of Kogi State have actually seen my performance against the performance of previous PDP Governors. In less than three and half years, they have seen all my wonderful performances.
“In fact, starting with even the issue of salaries, it’s just that all along, I have chosen not to speak about the issue of salary because it is a problem I inherited. And in any case governance is continuum, you inherit both assets and liabilities.
“When you inherit assets, you make use of it, when you inherit liabilities or trouble you try to solve it, you don’t complain about it. So I refused to make comment about the issue of salaries.
“As a matter of fact, the issues of salaries arrears I have already accepted by my immediate predecessor he inherited from Ibro’s administration. These past two PDP Governors couldn’t solve it, I have come to solve it. That already is a kudos to this administration That the people of Kogi state should vote for us,” he said.
Also speaking, national chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, said he was optimistic that the party would emerge victorious in the November election.
“I think Governor Bello has shown that he has capacity and going forward he would have learnt couple of lessons in his first term. I have passed through that process and I know that your second term is always the time you want to do those legacy project you will like to be remembered for.
“Because, the only benefits in this business is that when I leave, what would I be remembered for? The things that will drive Governor Yahaya Bello second term is what will be at the heart of our campaign.
“We have also seen the candidate nominated by the PDP, we want to make sure when we go to the field of play, Kogi people, the people will have no problems voting for our candidate in Kogi state as their preferred candidate,” he said.
