Outspoken Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said he would not celebrate or praise the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressive Congress (APC) federal government.
Fayose who belongs to the erstwhile ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Buhari is not God but Nigeria’s leader for a period of time.
He said this while speaking to news men in Ado Ekiti, the state capital shortly after the state state House of Assembly professed him as the ‘leader’ of the opposition party.
“I will tell them the truth. Opposition helps government of the day, helps Nigerians, to keep them on track. Opposition helps to check dictatorship, opposition helps to check oppression. My being here as governor, my voice today will remain by the grace of God.
“I’m not like somebody going underground for reasons of harassment; it is only shameful that the government of the day is after shadows. You want to be in power, you are in power; you have charged virtually all PDP governors to court, are we saying no APC governor is corrupt in this country? But for me, I’m not going into that; I’m not going to descend into that arena.”
”For everything I say, I say it in good conscience. When I was criticising the President before he became President of Nigeria, they thought I will be quiet after. Tomorrow, if I find him wanting, I will tell him. The President is not God, he’s only leader of our country for a period of time,” Fayose was quoted by Vanguard newspaper.
Fayose said he is not interested in vying for any bigger political position. “Even this one that I am serving as governor, it is the will of God for me. There is nothing to vie for.”
The blunt governor also took a swipe at former president Olusegun Obasanjo whom he accused of seeking relevance with the Buhari government.
“The likes of Obasanjo were looming larger than life at that time, where are they now? They are at Ota; they are begging for relevance now. They go to the villa everyday to beg for ministerial nominees. I was watching him in the papers, whether he was prostrating for Buhari or he was exchanging compliments, I don’t know. I can’t explain it. At certain times, you must know when to switch off; you must know when to turn off and you must know when to go to bed.
“For me, whether they call me leader of opposition or not, whether they call me Ayo Fayose, I’m not even chairman of PDP governors’ forum and I’m not desperate for anything, but you can’t take away my voice. You can throw away my word but you can’t throw me away.
“I remain resolute, I stand by the common man of this country. Tomorrow, Nigerians will appreciate me. It is in turbulent times that we know the strength of character of a man – in turbulent times like this – and it is shame on PDP leaders decamping because of relevance. They should keep their relevance; whatever we do – good or bad – will live after us,” he opined.
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