PDP Raise Concern over Governor Bello’s Threat

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claims it is worried by the alarming video showing Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello allegedly inciting his supporters and threatening to burn and inflict the most violence on Nigerians during the general elections in 2023.

In the video, Governor Bello was allegedly heard threatening terrorism, saying, “I would personally light a fierce fire in my palm, whoever wants it we shall use it to burn them, anyone survive it will thank God… Anyone who opposes us will be forced to join my mother and lie in the grave with her.

The PDP claimed that Yahaya Bello’s blatant threat raises concerns in the public sphere about the existence of a killer squad formed to inflict violence on Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general elections simply because they have rejected the dishonest, divisive, and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC), whose failure is most clearly demonstrated by Yahaya Bello’s appalling performance in Kogi State.

In support of his assertions, Gov. Bello’s statement can be categorised as an act of terrorism because, according to the FBI definition, terrorism is the “unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

“From his outburst, Nigerians now know the individuals who engineered the gruesome killing of many of our citizens, including the PDP Woman Leader in Kogi State, Mrs. Salome Abu, who was burnt alive in her house in 2019.

“Also, Nigerians now have more insight into the disappearance of Hon. Adelabu Musa, the PDP Chairman in Okene Local Government Area for over three years now.

“Furthermore, the PDP recalls how the Bello-led Kogi State Government was accused of breeding and arming thugs and fake security operatives to harass and attack Nigerians in Kogi State during the 2019 general elections.

“This threat to violence and actual violence to Nigerians, especially at this time, can cause a breach of the public peace, truncate the 2023 electoral process and derail our democracy,” the PDP spokesman stated.

In order to prevent a threat to democracy from occurring before the general elections in 2023, the PDP urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order Governor Yahaya Bello to order and add him and his supporters to a security watch list.

The opposition party also demanded that the Inspector General of Police launch an immediate, thorough inquiry into the actions of Governor Bello to halt the undesirable trend and bring charges against him after his term as Kogi State’s governor.

The PDP urged Nigerians, especially those in Kogi State, to remain vigilant and stand with them in their determination to free the country from the APC’s and leaders like Yahaya Bello’s sway in 2023. They urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by Yahaya Bello’s looming end as governor because they should not let that deter them.