Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state has officially declared his intention to run for the position of the office of the President of Nigeria in the forthcoming presidential election, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC).
Fayemi, who also doubles as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, made this known in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode.
According to the statement, Fayemi said he is officially declaring to join the hot presidential contest after consulting with the President Muhammadu Buhari, his colleagues in the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), traditional rulers as well as several other stakeholders across the federation.
Oyebode, in the statement also disclosed that Fayemi will prpceed to make a formal declaration on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The statement partly reads, “Dr Fayemi’s engagements with political and traditional leaders went on side by side with consultations with his colleague governors, especially those elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress. As at date he has conferred with and shared his vision with no fewer than 20 of the 22 APC governors, in the consultation process that is expected to run till the party’s primaries, later in the month.
“The NGF Chairman said the engagements with the traditional rulers and political leaders provided an avenue to share and listen to their perspectives on the ideal approaches to building a united country based on justice, freedom, equity and the rule of law. The aggregate opinion, counsel and goodwill received during the consultation period will form the crux of his declaration on Wednesday at the nation’s capital city.
“Remarkably, Dr Fayemi kick-started the consultation in Owo, Ondo State, where he met with the Olowo of Owo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye. Thereafter, Dr Fayemi met with Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, (who was his Secondary School principal) and other leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, including Chief Olu Falae and Chief Cornelius Adebayo in Akure, Ondo State capital.
“The Afenifere leaders did a frank assessment of current trends in the country and concluded that the country needs a leader, a democrat with character, courage and compassion at this critical period. They scored Dr Fayemi high on these points and gave their blessings for his aspiration.
“Dr.Drayemi’s consultation train later moved to the palace of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; King (Dr) Dandeson Douglas Jaja, of the Opobo Kingdom and Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers. He also visited and had talks with the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar and the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Jega during the Sallah holiday and both leaders respectively expressed their admiration for his personality and capacity as a bridge builder and lover of peace,” the statement added.
With the declaration, Fayemi will wrestle with one of the national leaders of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu; and former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun; among others to clinch the presidential ticket of the ruling party in 2023.
