Fayose declares for Presidency, says he will defeat Buhari in 2019
The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Peter Governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday declared his intention to contest the 2019 Presidential Election, vowing to defeat President Mohammadu Buhari in a free and fair election.
Fayose, who declared his intention in Abuja, the nation’s capital, expressed the firm confidence of his chances at the polls.
The Governor optimistically pointed out that like the Biblical Joseph, , he will become what God has ordained him to be.
The Governor of Ekiti State however warned against imposition of unwilling politicians on the people saying, ” we don’t want packaged governors or president again. This time around, we need a very agile and experienced fellow like me. ”
In his words, “my inviting you today, distinguished leaders of our party, is to inform you formally that I will be seeking the ticket of our great party, the PDP, to contest the 2019 presidential election. This is without prejudice to our party’s position
“However, I am a supporter of competence and capacity, especially now that this country needs young and able leaders that can take our country out of this present state of hopelessness”, he said.
While noting that although the PDP has zoned the presidency to the North, Fayose said, “it may interest you that no one has come out in this manner to show interest and our party should not wait or beg anyone to fly its flag.
“Do we now say that if no one comes out from the North, the party won’t have a candidate?” he asked in a veiled reference to candidates of northern extraction such as Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Ibrahim Shekarau all believed to be nursing Presidential ambition in 2019.
Continuing, the Ekiti State Governor said, “Going down memory lane, in 1999 and 2003, despite that our party zoned the presidency to the South, the likes of Alhaji Abubakar Rimi of blessed memory and Chief Banabas Gemade contested the ticket
“Also in 2007, some party members from the South did not only declare their intention to contest, they also showed interest and obtained nomination forms. Those from the South were; Chief Victor Attah, Dr. Peter Odili, Dr. Sam Egwu, Dr. Donald Duke, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Owelle Rochas Okorocha among others”, he said.
While urging Nigerians not to forget his history in a hurry, Fayose said, “Twice, I defeated incumbents to become the Governor of Ekiti State and I am confident that with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a free and fair election.
“Let me state that in Ekiti, God has used me twice for our party to regain power from the opposition and I believe same feat will be repeated at the national level.
” I do not stand before Nigerians today to present myself as one with the answers to all our national questions. Rather, I present myself as one with the required knowledge, understanding, competence and, above all, the political will to coordinate the human and material resources that we have in abundance to achieve national greatness.
“Having served successfully as governor twice in a state with very meagre resources, I have by this, garnered enough experience over time to prepare me well enough for the task of leading our country.
“By the grace of God, I am the longest-serving governor in Nigeria today, having served under three Presidents – Obasanjo, Jonathan, and now Buhari.
“Therefore, I can say expressly that I am well equipped in terms of knowledge, experience as well as physical and mental capacities to hit the ground running as soon as I assume office as President of Nigeria in 2019” he said.
The Governor used the opportunity of the declaration to carpet the President Buhari-led federal government for alleged poor performance in critical sectors of the economy.
His words, “Today, our country is faced with myriad of problems. Our economy that was the fastest-growing in Africa when our party was in power has gone comatose, with the present managers who are completely clueless
“In the area of security, which they leveraged on to come to power, despite claims by the government that Boko Haram was technically defeated; Nigerians are being killed by the insurgents while villages are being attacked in the North-East. Also, herdsmen are killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands with reckless abandon while kidnapping is now on the rise.
“Most worrisome is the fact that our country is now more divided than ever before, with the unity of the country being threatened due to nepotism, religious bigotry and favouritism of the present government.
“Unemployment has risen to an alarming level. Instead of creating three million jobs per year as promised, millions of jobs are being lost daily, with many companies folding up. This government has successfully wiped off the middle-class.
“Like they lied to win election, the APC government of President Buhari has been deceitful for over two years and an end must come to this deceptive government by 2019”, he stated.
Fayose promised that if given the mandate of ruling this country, he will revive the economy and return the nation to the path of progress that it was “before we had the misfortune of having these clueless people in power.”
Some of those in attendance at declaration were; former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, ex- Osun State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore, former National Vice Chairman (South- West) of the PDP, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipupo, Senator Duro Faseyi and the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Dr. (Mrs).Module Slade among others.
