The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Akin Omole has clarified that Governor Kayode Fayemi has not officially informed any member of his cabinet about his next political move.
Speaking on a state-owned Television Personality Programme in Ado-Ekiti on he said some watchers of political events in Nigeria who saw Presidential traits in the governor were encouraging him to run.
Omole disclosed that though, the governor had warned cabinet members to steer clear of politics, he would be glad if Fayemi eventually acceded to the calls by some spirited Nigerians urging to run for the nation’s top seat.
According to him, “it would be the joy every Ekiti man to see one of their own emerging the President of the most populous black nation in Africa,adding the state has not gotten such.
Said he ,”On issue of political ambition of Mr governor was clear about this when he advised that any member of the cabinet nursing political ambition should resign his or her position.
“Governor Fayemi would not want to be distracted as well.
But the people have been linking his name with the 2023 race. I think there is the need to reflect on this because it is symbolic. He is not the only governor in Nigeria why is it that his name is repeatedly being mentioned in connection with 2023 presidency.”
“Maybe these people admire the style of governance of the governor or probably there are impressed with the massive projects been executed in the last two years in spite of the dwindling resources ” the Commissioner argued .
“Let me state clearly here that Mr governor has not call me or any member of the cabinet to say he wants to run for presidency. But if a governor is working to better the lots of his people and the people are linking him to the race for 2023 it means the people must have seen presidential traits in him. Our governor is the most talked about in Nigeria”
“Personally speaking, it is not a bad idea if he (Fayemi) wants to run and I think we should all rally round him. It would be our joy in Ekiti to have one of our own as Presidency for the first time. He is qualified and capable.” Omole said.
Recall that some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress(APC) from Ekiti State have intensified calls for governor Fayemi to throw his hat into the ring for the 2023 Presidential race .
Fayemi had, while speaking at the opening session of a two-day high level retreat recently held for members of the state executive council , permanent secretaries and other top functionaries in Ado Ekiti urged any cabinet nursing political ambition to pull out.
He also advised those who might be distracted by the pursuit of interests other than the development agenda of the administration to find a way to quit honorably.
According to him, top officials of the government must not allow the collective mission to become impaired by personal pursuit, adding ” where it becomes impossible for anyone to stay in line with the rest of us, those who may want to prioritize their next political move above the need to deliver our recurrent mandate would be allowed to seek the permission to excuse themselves so as to have time to focus on their individual ambition.”
Continuing he said; “What we cannot do at this time is to allow division, indiscipline, working in silo and working across purposes to derail the work at hand, there is still a lot to be done in the remaining two years in spite of the many successes we have recorded.”