Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, has vowed not to accept a ministerial appointment from President Bola Tinubu but has said that the president should be appreciative of the G5 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their contribution to his victory in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The G5 is made up of Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) as well as Seyi Makinde (Oyo), a current governor.
As a condition for supporting Atiku, Wike and his G5 allies had requested that the former PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, resign in favour of a southern replacement. In the just completed elections, Atiku and Ayu both called the governors’ bluff and refused to give in to their demands.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) two-term governor, Fayose, claimed in an interview with Channels Television’s Sunday Politics that he worked against Atiku Abubakar in the February 25, 2023 election.
READ ALSO: I Remain A PDP Member But I Support Tinubu, APC – Fayose
He claimed that he supported Tinubu not because he needed an appointment with him but rather because he believes in him.
The anchor Seun Okinbaloye had questioned Fayose about whether he would decline the president’s offer of a ministerial position, to which Fayose had replied, “I will never accept it.”
He urged Tinubu to name individuals under the age of 65 and to request younger candidates from those between the ages of 65 and 70. He claimed the future of youth had been stolen by the elderly ones and it was time to give the young the opportunity.
Asked why he worked against his party, Fayose remarked, “Do you expect me to work for a party that suspended my son? a gathering that kicked my son out?
“I never worked for PDP during the last election. There’s no reason to hide that… The reality is that I worked for Asiwaju (Tinubu). He is a respectable person from the South-West. It is the turn of the South.”
“The same PDP, because I said it was the turn of the South, removed my son, suspended my son, expelled my son, suspended me. For a man that has suffered tremendously for PDP?”
What is wrong with that? Fayose questioned when asked about the potential of Wike serving in Tinubu’s cabinet. “What is wrong with that? How is anybody affected by that? If Asiwaju (Tinubu) says, “Fayose, you will be minister,” and I accept, what is their headache? I don’t want to be a minister.
“I want Wike to be in cabinet. Wike has what it takes to serve Nigeria. Wike is an articulate, capacity person. Nigeria needs (an) average bad person. I support Wike. If Asiwaju finds him or any of the G5 worthy, please serve in Asiwaju’s government.
“I will be disappointed if Asiwaju does not equally appreciate them for what they stand to represent. Wike must serve. Wike is still a young man. I’m his senior brother, he can’t deny that. Wike is an asset to Nigeria. Wike is never timid, he confronts challenges. Asiwaju needs a man like Wike.”
