The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, says it is only former President Goodluck Jonathan that can make him step down from the 2023 presidential race.
TrackNews reports that Mohammed made this known on Channels Television on Sunday while reacting to speculations that Jonathan may join the presidential race.
According to the presidential aspirant, he remains loyal to the former president for giving him the opportunity to serve as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2010.
Mohammed stated that Jonathan is one of those persons he respects most in this country and has established a family relationship with the former president.
The governor added that it will be a problem and disrespectful for him to contest against his former principal in the 2023 presidential election.
He, however, disclosed that President Jonathan has given him the go-ahead to declare his intention to become the next president in 2023.
Mohammed said: “He is one of those persons I respect most in this country. He is the most respected person I have because I emerged and came into the national limelight through him.
“Certainly, I have come to establish a family relationship with him and to me, he cannot be in the race and I will be in the race, out of respect and modesty.
“I have given him enough time and he has urged me to go ahead and I have gone ahead and even gotten another burden now; the mandate of my elders to continue. So, if Jonathan is running, it is a very big problem to me.”
