By Gbenga Akingbule
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors” Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Thursday declared that he’s confident of winning the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Primary Election and emerging the party’s candidate ahead of the 2023 Presidential election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Fayemi also stated that he’s not aversed to allowing all Presidential aspirants from across the country to vie for the APC ticket pointing out that there’re competent Nigerians in all parts of the country.
But the Governor quickly noted that “measures that will build trust and confidence in the country should be put in place so that everyone can have a sense of ownership .”
The Ekiti State Governor made the disclosure during a media chat with journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital shortly after meeting with APC delegates at the state secretariat.
The Governor said he knows the nooks and crannies of the country and had served APC faithfully and believes that the majority of the party delegates will vote for him to emerge the party’s flagbearer.
Dr Fayemi maintained that his role as a foundation member of the APC coupled with his former position as the pioneer Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum gives him an edge over other presidential aspirants of the party.
“I’m very confident of winning, I’m very very comfortable in the APC, I’m a foundation member of the APC and I know the nooks and crannies of this country. I have served the APC faithfully, I was the first Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and in that capacity, I served all my colleagues that were members of the Governors Forum then.
“Now that I’m the Chairman of the entire Nigeria Governors Forum, I have also gained the trust and confidence of all Governors in ensuring that I defend, protect and promote Nigeria in all spheres. This job that I seek is about improving the condition of the ordinary Nigerians and it’s an opportunity to build on the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and also to address the gaps,” Dr Fayemi said.
On the clamour by some APC leaders to zone the Presidency to the south, Governor Fayemi warned that competence must not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning but want every part of the country to have a sense of belonging in governance.
The Governor stated that he’s a bridge builder and stressed the need for inclusivity in the governance of the country.
“Nigeria is a diverse country, there’re competent people from all parts of Nigeria. My role has always been bridge-building and unifying in Nigeria and I believe that Nigerians of diverse competencies come from all parts of Nigeria, they can throw their hat into the ring.
“But when you have a multicultural,multi-religious divided society, you also need measures to build trust and confidence in the country, so that everybody can feel a sense of ownership and a sense of belonging. Zoning must never undermine competence and zoning must never be anti-democratic,” Dr Fayemi said.
