The rank of those to contest the May 30 presidential primaries of the All Progressive Congress is set to increase on Wednesday as the Ekiti State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi joins the race.
Fayemi is billed to formally declare his intention to run for the position of President of the country tomorrow in Abuja.
The Wednesday’s declaration, tagged “Unveiling My Nigeria Agenda”, according to his media aide, Olayinka Oyebode, “is the climax of the Governor’s extensive consultations across the geo-political zones in the last six weeks.”
Oyebode said that the formal declaration “will also lay to rest speculations on whether he would run for the Presidency or not.”
“Dr. Fayemi, had after discussing his plan to run for the number one office with President Mohammadu Buhari last month, sought counsel, guidance and support from traditional and political leaders across states in the federation,” Oyebode added
Fayemi is said to have consulted visiting a wide range of leaders and stakeholders the Olowo of Owo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye.
His decision to open his journey from Owo was said to be predicated on the historical truth that Owo is birth place of the defunct Action Group (AG) led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He also met the likes of Afenifere leader, Chief Olu Falae and Chief Cornelius Adebayo in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Others he met include the Osemawe of Ondo, HRM Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo, the Deji of Akure, HRM Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Olubadan of Ibadan, HRM Oba Lekan Bbalogun; the Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo; the Awujale of Ijebu Ode, HRM Oba Sikiru Adetona; and the Akarigbo of Remoland, who is also the chairman of Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi.
He had equally moved around other parts of the country where he met the 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, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar and the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Jega.
The statement added, “He had earlier held a major meeting with members of Ekiti State Traditional Council in Ado-Ekiti, with over 110 Obas in attendance. The Ekiti Obas who were excited at the possibility of one of their sons becoming the next President of the country, pledged their unalloyed support for Dr. Fayemi’s presidential bid. The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Aladesanmi; Ajero of Ijero- Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole and Owaoye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, who spoke on behalf of the Obas, said Fayemi is eminently qualified to lead the country in view of his exposure, education, experience and capacity.”
The statement added that 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 (APC).
“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,” it added
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.