Ekiti State Governor and APC Presidential Aspirant, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said his intention to contest the presidency was borne out of duty and desire to serve and not an ambition.
He said his move is about building on the various achievements and legacies of President Mohammadu Buhari and to address several gaps that have been identified by Nigerians about the state of the nation.
Dr Fayemi stated these, Wednesday in Ado Ekiti when a large gathering of residents, party members, Okada riders welcome him back to Ado Ekiti, the state capital, as he rounded off his month – long tour of states meeting APC leaders, stakeholders and delegates.
Dr Fayemi explained that he joined the presidential race as a result of people’s desire and calls across the geopolitical zones of the country for a reliable person who is sincere and passionate about the peace, unity, prosperity and progress of the country.
The NGF Chairman said Nigeria needed the service of someone like him who had the combination of experience both at the subnational and federal levels with vast understanding of how international organisations respond to critical issues. Dr Fayemi, added that Nigeria deserves a person who is sincere and committed leader to making Nigeria a better, prosperous and safer place.
The Governor, who disclosed that he had visited 24 states in the last three weeks, said the warmth reception given to him in places visited speaks to his credibility and acceptability among the people of the country.
Dr Fayemi, stressed that his only strategy to winning the heart of the electorate in the coming primary election is to engage and sell the theme of his agenda for a new Nigeria to party leaders and members across the country.
He said, “Since May 1st to May 25th, we have been to 24 states in Nigeria and in all of those places that we have been to, we have received very warm and kind reception, in many places we were overwhelmed with the kind of reception that we got.
“Those that we are not able to visit directly we have to send delegations to them, to share our vision and to explain the programmes that we have for the country and to solicit for their supports in all the places we have received very warmth support and we must thank God Almighty.
“And when you look around, you only see a few people going to talk to party members, delegates and leaders in the various state, may be those not going round have their own strategy of winning votes but the only strategy we know is to engage our leaders and members directly and sell the Nigeria agenda to them in a manner we believe they can understand and that is what we have done in the Northwest, in the Northeast, in the North Central, in the Southeast, in the South-south and of course back at home in the southwest.
“So the die is now cast, we have done our beat we will continue to do our beat till the day and we know that this is God’s own project because for us it is not about ambition, it is about service, it is about sacrifice, it is about duty, and it is about building on the legacies our President has already attained but also addressing the gaps Nigerians have highlighted about the state of our nation.
“And you clearly needs someone who combines the experience of working at the subnational level with the experience of having worked at the federal level and who understands the way international community respond to issues pertaining to our country.”
The Governor, also reiterated his commitment to the victory of APC Governorship flag bearer, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) in the coming governorship election in the State.
