Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, believes Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State will floor former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, should the duo contest the presidential election next year.
While Mr Bello of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has publicly declared his interest for the top job, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain popularly known as Atiku is yet to do same although his son said he will retry again after losing to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
Mr Atiku will not have a smooth ride to emerge the flagbearer of his party. He will have to contend with other aspirants who are mostly outgoing governors of the PDP.
Speaking on Channels TV on Friday, the former minister said the Kogi State helmsman who is his political ally will make an excellent president and will floor Atiku should the duo emerge candidates of their respective parties.
“I believe Governor Yahaya Bello. I believe that he will be an excellent president,” Mr Fani-Kayode said. I believe he will appeal to millions of young people in this country and that this is a change in the dynamics we are giving power to a younger person. That is just my view though.”
Asked if Mr Bello has the political strength to defeat the former vice president, the Osun-born politician answered in the affirmative.
“Why not?” he answered. “He (Bello) will defeat him (Atiku) hands down.”
He also mentioned two outgoing governors of the PDP whom he said could challenge the ruling APC during the national exercise scheduled for February 18, 2023.
“There are two people that will provide a very strong fight against the APC within the ranks of the PDP, only two,” he said. “The first is Bala Mohammed, who I have immense respect for.
“But I doubt they have the presence of mind to give him the ticket in fact they will make sure he does not get the ticket or he should come to APC and try his luck.
“And Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who is not even on your list (Channels’ list of 2023 presidential hopefuls) and he is one of the brightest and the best of them all, the most effective. They are two people that would provide a good fight.
“There is nobody else on that list, particularly Atiku Abubakar, that can stand against anybody within the APC, particularly against Yahaya Bello, Fashola or Fayemi. That is just my view, and I have my reason for saying that.”
