Fayose Vows To Defeat Buhari As He Declares for Presidency

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday formally unveiled his intention to vie for the 2019 presidency, vowing to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari.

The tough-talking chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum challenged his party men from the northern part of the country where the party zoned the presidency for 2019 to stop dilly-dallying and come forward to declare their intentions.

He said the constitution of Nigeria guarantees every Nigerian the democratic right to contest for the presidency, adding that zoning is only a gentleman agreement which does not foreclose anyone from participating in the process.

"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," he said.

The governor, however, said his seeking the ticket of the PDP to contest the 2019 presidential election is without prejudice to the party’s position on the zoning of presidency to the North.

He challenged politicians from the North interested in the presidential race to come forth now and declare their intentions, adding that Nigerians would no longer subscribe to a packaged president.

 Fayose said: "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.

"Most importantly, despite that the party has zoned the presidency to the North, 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?”

Speaking about his chances, Fayose whose intermittent jabs at the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration drew applause from the audience, said PDP needs to field a strong candidate with right disposition to winning elections.

According to him, "When I was contesting for the governorship of Ekiti State, they were about 22 aspirants but I defeated them  to become the governor. The party needs a candidate like me with a penchant for defeating the incumbents in electoral contests.

"This David (Fayose) will defeat the Goliath. In Jesus name, I will defeat this Goliath for Nigerians. God will capture the arrestors of today, and they will be arrested tomorrow. Our party has zoned the presidency to the North but less than one year to the presidential primary, no one from the north has declared for that position. What are my brothers in the North waiting for?

"I challenge them that if truly they deserve this zoning, they should come out. Let me say this expressly that who is interested in contesting for the presidency to come out. They should no longer hide behind the party positions.

“Tell those from the northern Nigeria, that they are men, and they should come out and run. We no longer want a packaged president.”

While insisting on his competence to rule the country, Fayose drew attention to his achievements in his state especially the feat recorded in education.

He said before assuming office, Ekiti State was number 29 in 2014 NECO examinations but that within two years, the state was able to move to number one in 2016 and again in 2017.

Also, in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Fayose said the state’s performance, which was 25 percent in 2014, moved to 74.86 percent in 2017.

He lambasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) for incompetence and poor governance, adding that the economy has recorded its second worst investment inflow in 10 years under APC watch.

"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.

"My party leaders, standing before you is Peter (The Rock) Ayodele Fayose, the man already destined by God to take Nigeria out of the present political and economic stagnations.

"You are all witnesses to my commitment to this party in this difficult period, where I have demonstrated uncommon courage that makes me stand out as capable of leading our country at this time.

"Our economy will be revived and returned to the path of progress that it was before we had the misfortune of having these clueless people in power. We will ensure diversification of the economy through agriculture, adequate supply of power and massive industrialisation, thereby creating employment for our youths," he said.

The former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, listed qualities of  Fayose that stood out from his peers to include his uncommon courage, outspokenness and indefatigable approach to the cause of equity and fairness in the affairs of the country.

Fani-Kayode, who delivered his speech in fine prose to thrill the audience, described Fayose as a trusted ally who cares much about the down-trodden and does not support oppression of the weak.

Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Senator Iyola Omisore, said Fayose has shown himself as a man of courage who can change the state of things in the country of the better.