Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi says election has gone beyond ethnic sentiment in the state, saying that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the November 11 poll because it presented a popular candidate and not based on tribe or ethnicity.

Mr Bello said this at a stakeholders meeting of the APC held at the Glasshouse of the Government House, Lokoja, on Saturday.

“Kogi must develop as one united state; under no illusion must any tribe think it could vote for itself and become governor without the support of other tribes. 

“In 2019, I won without ethnic agenda. I cautioned against tribal sentiments and asked that we desist from it before the election. I was optimistic that the APC would win the November 11 governorship election. I wanted it to be a sweet victory, the reason I cautioned against sentiments,” he said.

Mr Bello lauded President Bola Tinubu for his support toward the “clean and clear” victory of the APC in the off-cycle election.

“The journey was full of ups and downs in the last seven years. But we thank God for the resounding victory. With all the obstacles before, during and after the election, the APC came out stronger.

“The time for everybody to carry his cross has come. Everybody will bear his father’s name because there is still a future,” he said.

Mr Bello said transparency would remain his watchword as he tried to ensure that the people enjoyed the democracy dividends.

The governor expressed regret that people allowed emotions and personal and parochial interests to cloud their sense of reasoning during the election.

He said the good governance by his administration in the areas of road construction, health care and infrastructure development was enough for the APC to win overwhelmingly.

(NAN)