Fayemi speaks on the 2023 presidency

Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has said no serious politician will ignore the opportunity of becoming the President of Nigeria.

The governor refused to state categorically if he would be contesting for the Presidency in 2023 when asked question on it on Channel’s Televisions.

Fayemi said he is not concerned with becoming President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor but he was focused on completing his tenure in October 2022.

Fayemi, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, said this on a Channel’s Televisions programme, ‘Hard Copy’, which was televised on Friday.

Responding to a question laughingly, Fayemi, who has been endorsed for the Presidency by the Ekiti State House of Assembly said, “I am laughing.

You know why? I get asked this question all the time. I don’t know any serious- minded politician who will have the opportunity to govern a country with the blessings that we have – in spite of the challenges – that will not give it a shot but we are not there yet.”

The governor, who played a vital role in the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, however, refused to state categorically if he would be contesting for the Presidency in 2023. Rather he said he was focused on completing his tenure in October 2022.

“I am considering finishing well in Ekiti in 2022. I have a job. Frankly, I am eternally grateful to Ekiti people for giving me the opportunity to govern the state twice and I still have a lot to deliver on that agenda.

“So, the future will take care of itself. I have no means of knowing what is going to happen but for me, the certainty is that I am the Governor of Ekiti State and that term expires in October 2022. That is the job I have for now,” Fayemi said.

The NGF chairman faulted the decision of the Federal Government to invest $1.5bn in refurbishing the Port Harcourt refinery but said he did not have all the facts that could have led to the decision.

He also said there was a need for the Federal Government to convince the organised labour and Nigerians at large to accept deregulation.

Fayemi said, “I am not a member of the cabinet and I don’t know what informed that decision but clearly, I believe a level of analysis must have gone into it and the approval process must have taken into consideration the cost-benefit analysis of that decision.

“I wouldn’t have taken that decision given the fact that we know that a big refinery, private sector -driven is coming on stream but I don’t have that decision that led to that decision at FEC. I wouldn’t have taken that decision.”

Contributing to the debate on the use of hijab at missionary schools which led to a crisis in Kwara State, Fayemi said there was a need to play down religiosity in Nigeria.

He said it may be a product of poverty and frustration.

Fayemi also faulted calls for the division of the country, stating that the best way forward was devolution of powers from the centre to the federating units.

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