‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
Daily Courier – The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday officially declared his intention to run for President promising to decentralize power if elected.
Governor Fayemi will be joining seven other aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who have declared their intentions to run for the same position.
The major highlight of the event is unveiling his agenda which he has themed, “Unveiling my Agenda for Nigeria”.
While presenting his credentials, Fayemi said: “Beyond my early forays into the public sphere as a student leader, my abiding faith in the oneness of our country has been further reinforced by all my subsequent engagements in national affairs as a scholar/public intellectual, civil society voice and institution builder, political organiser with an unapologetic pan-Nigerian and pan-African outlook, indefatigable advocate for human rights and democratic governance, two-term governor, federal minister, an active member of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, and two-term Chair of Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
“I have been privileged to witness first hand, the underlying commitment and sense of solidarity which Nigerians from all parts of the country share about the promise of the fatherland. And it has been my singular honour to have been an active part at various times of different detachments of the committed army of compatriots from various walks of life labouring with determination for our national progress to be both sustained and advanced.”
On his plans to decentralize power if elected, Fayemi said, “No vision of national prosperity however impeccable or programme of national transformation however comprehensive can deliver the outcomes desired without attention to the planning system of government writ large. We must build on recent successes in restoring our national planning system and statistical capacity in order to open new, forward-looking approaches to development management. This will form an integral part of the new elan that we will be bringing to governance as a whole, driven by a philosophy of efficient service delivery, the enthronement of a civic culture, and the encouragement of an empowered citizenry to engage with public affairs understanding that it is the repository of power.
“As part of this commitment, a wholistic approach to decentralisation will be embraced and institutionalised so that government and its services are brought closer to the people. Our programme of decentralisation will also feed into the goals of a stronger, more united, and stable Nigeria. These are outcomes which are not only good for our domestic prospects but which willa also benefit West Africa, the rest of the African continent, and a troubled international multilateral system.”
The declaration which took place at the Congress hall of Transcorp Hotel, Abuja has eminent Nigerians, traditional rulers from Ekiti among others.
The presidential primary for electing the presidential standard bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is scheduled for May 30 to June 1.
Fayemi is joining other APC aspirants including, the former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; former labour leader, Adams Oshiomole seeking to succeed Buhari.
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