HIGHLIGHT
Staunch critic and controversial Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Governor Ayodele Peter Fayose open to paying President Muhammadu Buhari a courtesy visit in London despite their personal and political differences.
Governor Ayodele Fayose is prepared to be a rare guest at the Abuja House in London to see the ailing Nigerian leader and All Progressives Congress chieftain, President Muhammadu Buhari who has been away in the United Kingdom for over a month on medical grounds.
According to the Punch, the Ekiti State Governor claims that he is willing to visit Buhari in the United Kingdom if he does not return soon.
He, however, said the PDP governors belong to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and would take instructions from the governors’ body.
He said, “PDP or APC governors’ forum is merely political. We all belong to the NGF and we will go by the decision of the governors’ forum. As a person, and speaking for the PDP governors, we support the call to visit the President in the UK.
“The health of the President should not be politicised. Anybody can fall sick, whether old or young.
The President’s handlers are the ones causing confusion and creating room for rumours. They should have told Nigerians what was wrong with the President.
“We pray for the President to be strong so that he can return home on time to perform the functions Nigerians elected him to perform.
“It doesn’t matter what party is in government, constructive criticisms should not amount to wishing anybody dead. We wish our President well and our prayers are with him. And as a party, the PDP wishes the President well.”
It should be noted that the Buhari-led government is currently investigating Mr. Fayose for corruption and electoral fraud leading to unsettled scores and long feud between both parties.
The Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, also said that there was nothing wrong if PDP governors chose to visit Buhari in the UK.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, who spoke on behalf of his boss, said as President of Nigeria, there should be no special political colouration of such a visit.
He said, “If the PDP governors are going to visit the President as a group, Ayade will not be opposed to it because President Buhari is the President of all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation. Again, you know that Ayade has a special relationship with the President.”
Also, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said there was nothing wrong if any governor decided to visit the President.
Mimiko, who spoke through the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said nobody prayed for the President to die.
He said, “Nobody is happy about the present condition of Mr. President and if anybody wants to show him love by visiting him in London, it is not bad.”
Similarly, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday said it was needless for anybody to politicise the alleged ill-health of President Buhari.
Okowa, who is a member of the PDP, spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stating that it was the duty of all Nigerians to pray for the good health of their leaders irrespective of his political party or religion.
He enjoined Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery and return of President Buhari so that he could fix the daunting challenges facing the country.
