Former Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that he will not hesitate to move against President Bola Tinubu if he derails from his campaign promises to Nigerians.
Fayose, who spoke with newsmen on Thursday after paying a courtesy visit to the President at the State House, Abuja, commented on his character consistency saying although he is supporting the President now, he would, however, not hesitate to attack him if he is found to be failing in his promises to Nigerians.
Said he: “I want to say to you that Nigerians know me very well when President Buhari was to come. From day one, I made it very clear that the President will not do well. I did not hide, I was open to it and I said it repeatedly. May I say to you, ladies and gentlemen of the press, let me tell you, if Asiwaju turns back on his promise, all he said when he was campaigning, I will be the first to talk. I am not timid o and I don’t shy away from facing challenges.
“But the man I have seen today, I don’t eulogize and I don’t praise to curry favour, I am no more a small boy. Let me tell you, the man I saw today and for the actions we have seen, means well for Nigeria. But if there’s any reason to derail, it will not be deliberate and we will all be able to draw his attention to his brief as the President and Commander-in-Chief of our country. Let us be optimistic, let us be hopeful and let us believe that there will be a turn around”.
The former Ekiti governor, who recalled that he has always respected President Tinubu, pointed out that he (the President) had done so well in his last one month in the saddle, calling on all Nigerians to rally round him to do more.
Asked if his visit was part of making the president’s nomination list, Fayose said, he is not after appointment, saying one doesn’t have to be in government to contribute to the success of the administration.
He said though he and some opposition party leaders such as Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, are working with Tinubu, he can never join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as he remains a member of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Fayose reiterated his commitment to the PDP, urging politicians to move ahead with elections over.
Commenting on the performance of the President since he assumed office, Fayose said “the steps so far taken can readily give us the direction of this government. Elections have come and gone, without prejudice to the courts. But it’s no more time for campaign or selling a political party, it is time to govern Nigeria for the benefit of children yet unborn and those of us that are still here and to equally let you know that I had a very wonderful time with the President.
“You will see him very alert and very clearly in the direction he wants to take the country, but he can’t do it alone, he needs all of us.
“Whosoever is in this saddle is Nigeria is Nigeria on the saddle and we must stand by him, we must give our best and I want to tell you that people like me, others like Governor Wike, Governor Makinde and other wonderful Nigerians, we have made up our minds that it is better to stand with a man of vision and to stand with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the betterment of our country. That is why I’m here”, he said.
Asked if he is still in the opposition PDP, he said “I’ve said it in several fora. I will never be a member of the APC. I am a PDP man, if anything takes me out of the PDP or if I don’t do partisan politics again, I will be the husband of my wife at home.
“It is not a matter of party, Nigeria is bigger than all political parties and all interest groups. I want to tell you again, you don’t have to take an appointment to make a difference. Nigeria is about 200 million population, we all can’t be on appointment, whosoever makes it, either in the APC or in the attempt to have a government of national unity, it’s all about service.
“May I say to you expressly, I am not a desperate person at all, but I don’t shy away and I will never shy away to give direction wherever I am. I am with this government, without apologies. Majority in the past can tell you, even when I was a sitting governor in Ekiti, I’ve always spoken well of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, Fayose further said.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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