Fayemi-led Presidency Will Be Non-Partisan-Aribasoye
A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeoye Aribasoye, has said a presidency under the leadership of the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, would be devoid of tribalism and partisanship.
He said the Ekiti State governor has demonstrated this in view of the awards he bestowed on two former governors of the state, Chief Segun Oni and Ayo Fayose, among others, at the weekend.
Aribasoye, who represents Ikole Constituency 2 in the state legislature, commended Governor Fayemi for eschewing partisanship in the conferment of Distinguished State Awards on some eminent personalities of Ekiti origin.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said this in a statement, adding that bestowing awards on strong opposition figures like former Fayose and Oni, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further amplified Fayemi’s exemptional qualifications for the presidency in 2023.
He particularly said the awards conferred on opposition figures, in an environment where partisanship has taken the centre stage, depicted Governor Fayemi as being matured enough to handle the country’s volatile ethno-religious and political diversity.
Aribasoye said the kind of president the country needs in 2023 is someone that is competent, sound in health and mind and who has distinguishable quality that can rise above pedestrian thinking and viewing of national issue from the narrow prism of politics, ethnicity and religion.
The lawmaker also praised the governor for deeming it worthy to honour those who had worked hard, sacrificed their times, finances and energy for the creation and development of Ekiti State, saying such personalities worth celebrating, regardless of political leanings.
“Like the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye, rightly said recently in Ado Ekiti in his lecture on ‘Ekiti Politics and Challenge of leadership’ at an annual award and lecture organised by NUJ, Correspondents’ Chapel, the next president must not only sound in mind, health and be competent, he must be detribalistic. He must be a unifying factor, rather than divisive.
“The state awards tagged ‘ONI UYI’ conferred on eminent personalities, who are architects and builders of Ekiti by Governor Fayemi yesterday, had again launched Ekiti to that cadre of loftiness and respect among the comity of nations. It was one policy that was targeted at protecting and preserving Ekiti’s prestine values of integrity, honesty and diligence.
“We knew and acknowledged the roles played by former Governors Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni and two military administrators that laid the foundation for the smooth take-off of democratic institutions in our dear state.
“Contributions of personalities like Chief Deji Fasuan, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and host of others should be made to remain indelible. We have to show honour and respect them for posterity to consign them to the positive side of history and Governor Fayemi had done just that.
“This honours would spur and imbue them with the spirit of patriotism and send a powerful signal that there is reward mechanism and that working for humanity pays and highly dignifying.
“That is why Governor Fayemi worth being elevated. He worth being elected as a president in a country like Nigeria that is in dire need of a leader that would put development above partisan or ethnic interest and, if the nation is desirous of one, Governor Fayemi remains the best in this regard,” he stated.
