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Notes It Has Worked for the Ruling Party
- Safiu Kehinde
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has expressed his admiration for the leadership style of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which he claimed to be built on loyalty and respect of the party leaders decision.
Fayose made this known while recounting his visit to President Bola Tinubu in a radio interview on Monday.
Speaking on his endorsement of the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain disclosed that Tinubu remained an ardent supporter of the governor and has endorsed him for a second term in office.
He thereafter ruled out chances of the PDP defeating the APC as he explained the level of loyalty and respect the party holds for its leaders which he considered funny.
“I paid visit to Asiwaju twice. I went in December and during the Ileya festival. I informed him about a governorship aspirant but the President insisted that he is only supporting Oyebanji.
“That was why I did an interview there to reveal what he told me. So it’s left for anyone who decides to deceive himself.
“The strategy I used in becoming governor back then no longer work now.
“What I consider funny about the APC which works for them is that they agree with whatever the leader says.
“You won’t see them fight when they get to their leaders unlike our party (PDP). We don’t come to agreement in our party. It’s always an Aluta Aluta affairs.
“But in the APC, it’s about what the leader says.” Fayose said.
The ex-Ekiti governor also disclosed his warning to his son who insisted in joining to APC.
“When my son insisted on joining the APC, I wished him good luck.
“I however warned him that the APC is not like ours. They will tell you clearly that these are who we want. And if you prove too troublesome, they will place you on reserve bench and your injury will never be healed.
“For those decamping, the APC will not allow you to destroy their party. I know them very well.
“They will make their stand known to you and you will have to comply. They neither backbite nor go against their leaders. Whoever wants to join them is free. But as for me, I’m not going anywhere again. I will rather be the husband of my wife.
“We’ve given birth to grown-up children. We shouldn’t be the ones throwing punches again on the field.
“Any party that the leaders cannot control, leave them to go astray.” He added.
Fayose further ruled out the chances of the PDP making any pact at the upcoming elections as he held that the party ahs totally collapsed.
He traced the fall of the party to the 2023 Presidential election saga where Wike was dumped by the party despite the desire of the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to have him as his running mate.
“I don’t want you to be deceiving yourself. Can they beat Oyebanji where we currently are? In 2023, I was a loyal supporter of Wike. The current problem in the PDP started from the root. Vaccine cannot cure the polio that ravages the PDP because it is a self-inflicted problem.
“The day we ended the primaries and Atiku said he wanted to see Wike, Wike didn’t want to see him. We were the ones who told him urged him to listen to Atiku.
“Atiku told Wike that the party don’t want him as his VP.
“After that, the then National Chairman went ahead to collect money from Wike for screening of Vice President aspirants. They still ended up cheating him. That was where the problem started.” He said.
Fayose reaffirmed his support for Tinubu while slamming his critics in the PDP.
“I was a member of the G5 and I don’t dodge. I’m not dodging my support for Asiwaju. I don’t do mine under the table. If you want to eat your party, eat it. The leadership of the party, are they not in the APC now?
“Is the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP still in the party? There are some questions we shouldn’t be asking again.
“The party is in trouble. Who is the leader of the PDP in Ekiti now? Is it Deji Ogunsakin or who?
“And I won’t let them join the APC. All those miscreant members will not be permitted to join the APC.
“I’ve once installed someone who can’t speak English as Senator. My Ileje neighbour cannot speak a simple English and I’m the one who made him a Senator.” The ex-Ekiti governor added.