EKITI state governor, Ayodele Fayose said yesterday that he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the tacit persuasion by his Osun state counterpart, Governor Rauf Aregbesola asking him to reconsider membership of the party in view of the myriads of challenges it
Fayose who spoke in Osogbo, Osun state capital during a courtesy visit to Aregbesola stated that against all speculations, he was not in Osogbo to ask Aragbesola to help him beg President Muhammadu Buhari but rather to discuss the future of the Yoruba ethnic nationality.
The visit was the first of its kind Fayose had made to any All Progressives Congress(APC) governor and it centred on how to collectively engender rapid development of the Yoruba race within the context of the Nigerian federation.
“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, and it can flow anywhere.
“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 affects the Oodua, the progenitor,” Fayose emphasized.
The Osun governor had advised Fayose to face the reality of the death of the PDP by aligning himself with a party where he can join hands with others in the development of democracy and the nation.
Fayose however disagreed saying the next general election would determine whether the PDP was alive or dead as claimed by Aregbesola.
It stated that against all speculations that he was coming to Osogbo to ask Aregbesola help him beg President Muhammadu Buhari, he was actually in Osun for the unity of Yoruba race.
He added 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 son and daughter to see to the unity and progress of the race as paramount.
Aregbesola said while he was not asking the governor to abandon the opposition PDP against his wish, he would only advise him to join hands with a political party that will give hope to the people of Nigeria.
He also urged the Ekiti State governor to direct his energy towards bringing human and physical development to western region and Nigeria as a whole instead of engaging himself in controversial issues.
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 the reality today is that PDP has served its term in Nigeria. When a horse is dead, it is either you abandon it or you bury it.
“I want my good friend and brother to know that PDP has exhausted its 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.”
