Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello,has lambasted former deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, James Abiodun Faleke, over comments against him.

Faleke had warned that President Muhammadu Buhari may lose the state in 2019 if Bello continues to lead his campaign in the state.

Responding, Bello through his Director General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, re-affirmed his earlier stance that Buhari remains the candidate to beat in Kogi State.

He said: “Kogi is for Buhari and Buhari is for Kogi. Let us remind critics that Kogi people were the first to hold a mammoth rally to endorse Mr. President for second term.

“Faleke is a Diaspora politician, a bad loser who has been doing everything possible to pull the party down in Kogi State. Some APC leaders in Kogi State may not be aware that we are keeping track of their secret funding of APDA in the state.

“Faleke is uncomfortable with the rising profile of the governor and has been making mockery of his political status as a member of the House of Representatives.

“President Buhari is comfortable that those who tried to pull the party down are complaining. It shows that the party is safely under the leadership of Governor Bello.

“Faleke should come home and stop launching tirades in the pages of newspapers. Every politics is local. Let him come home to prove his relevance.”