BY KAZEEM BISIRIYU
The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has resolved to prevail on Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to contest for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023, stressing that he is well qualified for the task of leading the nation.
Towards this, the Obas will send a delegation at an opportuned time to prevail on him to contest for the position. The monarchs took the decision at their statutory monthly meeting in Ado Ekiti on 23rd February 2021 after listening to a 4-man voluntary organization known as “Our Belief project led by Hon Aloba Abejide. Hon Abejide had pleaded with the traditional rulers to call on the Governor to make up his mind early and declare his intention to contest in the 2023 Presidential election.
The State Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council who is the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, HRM Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi Afuntade 1, who welcomed the team to the Obas Council Chambers, spoke at length in tandem with complimentary remarks from several traditional rulers , on the sterling qualities of Governor Kayode Fayemi. He stressed that the challenges confronting Nigeria today would definitely need a young, dynamic, energetic and brilliant Fayemi who has the wherewithal to be a good president.
Oba Alabi noted that Governor Fayemi was one of those who fought the military to bring back democracy to Nigeria and that a man of his calibre with a higher degree in war would know how to resolve the issue of insecurity in Nigeria.
Summarizing the views of his fellow Obas, the foremost traditional ruler said this is the time for Ekiti indigene to become the President of Nigeria adding that Ekiti people had helped many other tribes in the past to get to the top. “All Ekiti Obas will support Fayemi wholeheartedly in the 2023 Presidential election”, the Alawe stated.
Oba Alabi recalled the memorable and positive remarks made by the Sultan of Sokoto and Governor El Rufai of Kaduna state during the October 2020 Arewa Summit in Kaduna during which they expressed implicit confidence in Governor Fayemi. The obas concluded that Fayemi would make a good President to lead Nigerua at this critical period of the country’s history.
The Traditional rulers however advised politicians in Ekiti to be united and work together on the project.
Members of the team that earlier pleaded with the Obas included Hon.Aloba Abejide, Elder Akin Aregbe, Hon (Mrs) Mojisola Fafure and Prof Adio Folayan.