By METROWATCH Reporter
Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has vowed that he would be the first to blast President Bola Tinubu if he goes back on campaign promises.
He expressed his intention to actively monitor the government’s activities and provide constructive criticism when necessary.
This is even as he said that he did not expect Tinubu to fail, stressing that if there is any delay, it will not be a deliberate act on the part of the president.
He made the declaration Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting with president.
Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after the meeting, Fayose, however, rated Tinubu’s performance high since coming into office saying he should be encouraged, adding that he cannot do it alone.
According to him, since elections are over, and it is time to govern, urging Nigerians to rally round President Tinubu who he said is alert and has a clear direction he wants to take the country.
Asked if his visit was part of making the president’s nomination list, Fayose said, he is not after appointment, saying one doesn’t have to be appointed to contribute to the success of the administration.
He said though he and some opposition party leaders such as Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, are working with Tinubu, he can never join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as he remains a member of the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Fayose reiterated his commitment to the PDP, urging politicians to move ahead with elections over.
Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Fayose said: “I’m happy to be here, one to congratulate the good people of
Nigeria to the fact that this is a new beginning, a renewed hope.
“The steps so far taken can readily give us the direction of this government. Elections have come and gone, without prejudice to the courts. But it’s no more time for campaign or selling a political party, it is time to govern Nigeria for the benefit of children yet unborn and those of us that are still here and to equally let you know that I had a very wonderful time with the President.
“You will see him very alert and very clearly in the direction he wants to take the country, but he can’t do it alone, he needs all of us.
“Whosoever is in this saddle, it is Nigeria on the saddle and we must stand by him, we must give our best and I want to tell you that people like me, others like Governor Wike, Governor Makinde and other wonderful Nigerians, we have made up our minds that it is better to stand with a man of vision and to stand with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the betterment of our country. That is why I’m here.”
On if he is till a member of the PDP and if he would accept should the President extend an appointment to him, he said: “Let me start with the last one. Let me say again, unequivocally, I’ve said it in several fora. I will never be a member of the APC. I am a PDP man, if anything takes me out of the PDP or if I don’t do partisan politics again, I will be the husband of my
wife at home.
“It is not a matter of party, Nigeria is bigger than all political parties and all interest groups. I want to tell you again, you don’t have to take an appointment to make a difference.
“Nigeria is about 200 million population, we all can’t be on appointment, whosoever makes it, either in the APC or in the attempt to have a government of national unity, it’s all about service.
“May I say to you expressly, I am not a desperate person at all, but I don’t shy away and I will never shy away to give direction wherever I am. I am with this government, without apologies. Majority in the past can tell you, even when I was a sitting governor in Ekiti, I’ve always spoken well of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I never knew this day will come and may I say to you, the agenda that I joined the G5 to pursue is to have a Southern President. Today, a Southern President has emerged and we’re all with him.”
Asked what he was doing to revive the PDP, the former Ekiti governor said: “I want to say to you that Nigerians know me very well when President Buhari was to come. From day one, I made it very clear that the President will not do well. I did not hide, I was open to it and I said it repeatedly.
“May I say to you, ladies and gentlemen of the press, let me tell you, if Asiwaju turns back on his promise, all he said when he was campaigning, I will be the first to talk. I am not timid and I don’t shy away from facing challenges.
“But the man I have seen today, I don’t eulogize and I don’t praise to curry favour, I am no more a small boy. Let me tell you, the man I saw today and for the actions we have seen, means well for Nigeria. But if there’s any reason to derail, it will not be deliberate and we will all be able to draw his attention to his brief as the President and Commander-in-Chief of our country. Let us be optimistic, let us be hopeful and let us believe that there will be a turn around.”
Asked how a vibrant opposition can be provided to keep the government on its toes, he said: “I’m doing more than opposition. If the government in power is not doing the right thing, we’ll be courageous enough to tell the government in power. That was why I told you, when Buhari was President in this country I didn’t shy away from telling him the truth and the government. May I say to you, I’ve said here, that if the President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is shying away from his brief, I Ayo Fayose, Oshoko, will be courageous enough to tell him.
“You see, I’m 63, I’m not a small boy anymore. I stand by what I say. I want to assure you that you don’t have to be in a political party to stand up and in opposition. But you don’t oppose when you don’t need to oppose though. You don’t fight an innocent person if that person has not done anything wrong.”
