Atiku visits Ekiti, consults with Fayose on 2019

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during his visit to Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during his visit to Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti, on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar was in Ekiti State on Wednesday ostensibly to consult with Governor Ayodele Fayose and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, on his presidential ambition in 2019.

Atiku, while being received at the Government House, Oke Ayoba in Ado Ekiti, said Ekiti was the first state he was visiting “to consult with our party members since my return home to PDP.”

He said his choosing Ekiti as first was because of his long-standing relationship with Governor Fayose, whom he described as “a sharpshooter when he makes his political targets and he hardly misses his target,” and added that “apart from that, he’s also the chairman of our Governors Forum.”

He commended Fayose for the development of infrastructure in the state and noted that Fayose “has a lot to offer our party and in our country.”

He also commended Fayose for supporting his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola, to succeed him as the next governor of the state, saying “it is rare and means that he has foresight; how many deputies have succeeded their governors?”

Atiku, who declined comments on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s condemnation of Buhari’s government, said Nigerians were the ones to evaluate the letter to the President.

He, however, advised the Nigerian electorate not to vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 presidential election, saying “APC has failed this country. That party is not the solution to our country’s challenges.”

Speaking on the occasion, Fayose thanked the former vice president for the visit and noted that he was one of his supporters when he was elected as governor for the first time.

Governor Fayose described Atiku’s ambition as “legitimate and a welcome development,” however, noted that he would discuss his presidential ambition with him privately as other aspirants would do, and explained that in spite of his own presidential ambition, the party’s interest would be placed above individual aspirations.

He took a swipe at Buhari’s government, saying he was not disappointed “because I did not vote for him and I campaigned against him” and also charged Nigerians to take Obasanjo’s message and ignore the messenger.

He said: “I take what Obasanjo says in his letter. I align myself with all he said but we take the message and ignore the messenger. He’s ashamed to return to PDP and he has rejected APC. So, he’s calling for a third force; Who is following him to a third force a few months to the election? Tell everyone, if you vote APC, second and final sufferings is what you are inviting.”

S-Davies Wande