Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi addressing APC delegates in Bauchi
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and a presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that security, job creation and provision of electricity are the three major problems that must be solved by any leader if tension, agitation for secession and other challenges must be addressed.
Fayemi who stated this while trying to woo APC delegates from Bauchi State to vote for him at the national convention of the party at a brief meeting held at the party secretariat, told them that with his experience working in various capacities, if given the ticket of the party, he had the capacity to become Nigeria’s next president.
He said: “Having served in various capacities as Governor, as Minister, as University Teacher, as a Researcher as a Civil Society Activist, I would like to think that in very many ways, I have the privilege to relate with Nigerians from all walks of life. I would also like to think that I know our country very well.
“Going round this country, I have seen three priority areas – around security, around jobs for our people around power – electricity. Of course, there are other things tied to that.
“Anybody who has solutions to these three problems would provide solutions to the Nigerian condition and would reduce tension in the land, would reduce agitations for secession, would ensure that we get inclusive policies at all levels and a better and much prosperous economy.
“That is what has informed my throwing my hat in the ring as an aspirant in the presidential race, and I don’t believe that I can do that by sitting comfortably in Ekiti and not relating with members of our party in the lengths and breadths of Nigeria, that’s why I’m here in Bauchi to meet with our leaders here to listen to your yearnings, to also exchange ideas on how best we all think we can move Nigeria to that next level we talk about.”
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), who said that his party had made some improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians however, admitted that a lot needs to be done, promising that if elected president of the country, he would build on the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of his tenure in 2023.
“Even though our government in the last seven years, has done a lot to improve the lot of the ordinary Nigerian, there are still impediments that we must tackle. And since nation building is a continuous programme, nation building is always work in progress, we just have to take it from where the president will stop in 2023 and quickly build on the gains of President Muhammadu’s administration and address the gaps that our people have highlighted across the lengths and breadths of the country.
“Not everything has been done but governance is an unfinished business, it is those who have the requisite capacity, experience, expertise, compassion for the ordinary people and the integrity, that will be in a position to address these issues.
“And I’d like to think that by my training, by my experience, by my knowledge, I have what it takes to make the fundamental difference in the lives of our people.
“And by God’s grace, if you give me your support and I emerge as the candidate of this party, I will work for the party inasmuch as I will work for the country. I will work for those who have toiled since we started this journey in 2013 when APC emerged from the formation of our three major parties and are part of APGA.
“With me in the saddle, as a good student of Muhammadu Buhari, who I work for, who supported me in my political career in Ekiti for me to regain the state and when I served as his Minister. I will work for you in every fibre in my bone,” he stated.
Also speaking, a former Deputy National Chairman of the APC, Senator Lawal Shuaibu from Zamfara state, said that Nigerians are tired of recycling old leaders whom he said have not much to contribute to the present generation.
“We are in a quagmire in this country we can’t continue what has always been , we can’t continue with taking old people and giving them power to lead us, the world has changed and gone far beyond that, we are now in a jet age.
“This change we’ve been talking about, up to now we’ve not gotten it, truth be told, but that change is what we are advertising to you, let’s change from those of yesterday and bring that of today, let’s bring a younger person to see, all of it are trial. Maybe what we’ve been looking for, we can get it from him.
“We shouldn’t continue with the practice that every time, they will bring a 70 year old and above to us, it won’t continue like that if we are wise. We are not youths but we agree that a youth should be given and that was why we came to meet with you,” he stated.
