Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that he visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Tuesday, as part of his efforts to foster unity among Yoruba leaders.
The governor, who said that he was not in Osun for any political reason, pointed out that he was not ready to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Fayose stated that against all speculations from some quarters that he was coming to Osogbo to ask Aregbesola help him beg President Muhammadu Buhari, he was in Osun for the unity of Yoruba race.
He said that the Yoruba race was greater than any political office hence his belief in the development of the race.
The governor averred that the visit of the Ooni of Ife to the 45th coronation of the Alaafin of Oyo was instructive, hence the need for every Yoruba sons and daughters to see to the unity and progress of the race.
He said, “This is my first official visit to any APC state in Nigeria. I am not in Osogbo to ask Aregbesola to help me beg as being speculated in some quarters. We are all Yoruba, politics is like water, it can flow anywhere.
“I was moved by the historic visit of the Ooni of Ife to the Alaafin of Oyo and I am of the opinion that the Yoruba leaders must unite.
“The Yoruba nation must not be rubbished. Our leaders must not be rubbished irrespective of the political they belong to.
“I believe in the Yoruba race, the race comes first before the office of the governor. The race is eternal while that of governor is
momentary. We must watch today to be guided by tomorrow. I am here for the unity of Yoruba as it affect the Oodua, the progenitor” Fayose
emphasised.
While reiterating his ressolve to remain in the PDP, the governor said, “I remain in PDP to play the opposition role.
“In all of this, there must be fairness. There must be equity and the rule of law must be followed. We should remember that power as it was
transient for the PDP, it can also be transient for the party in power now.
“For me, I don’t want to contest which party is dead now or which one is alive. Whether or not PDP is dead, time will tell.
“Opposition is the major ingredient of democracy and without opposition in a democracy, there will be dictatorship. Those promoting dictatorship in a democracy will end up in the stomach of the dictator.”
Responding, Governor Aregbesola described the visit of Governor Fayose to Osun as demonstration of maturity, saying it takes a very matured human being to know that at the end of every public office, he will be left with humanity.
He said, “Osoko has said that he is not going to leave his party, but I want my good friend and brother to know that PDP has exhausted it’s stay in Nigeria, it can no longer be revived, let us look at a political party that will give hope to our people. Opposition must be for a purpose, I stand by you on the unity of Yoruba land and that our leaders not put down in the country.”
He assured Fayose that he will stand by him in his effort to galvanise the people of South-west for accelerated development.
The Governor who lamented the present economic situation of the country noted that there was an invasion on the economy of Nigeria to the extent that the country is loosing 75 percent of its income due to oil glut.
“The country is facing a very serious crises with the rate at which the crude oil price is falling. There is an invasion on the economy to the level that we are loosing 75 percent of our income which is not good.
“At this point, wise people must have an alternative to oil which part of it is your visit. We must use our culture and affinity to form a bond that can make our people live a normal life, it is a duty that we owe our people, States and Nigeria as a whole”.
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