Presidential Election Will Be Chaotic, Says Fayose, Ekiti Governor

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose has predicted that the forthcoming Presidential election in the country would be turbulent, but assured that the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would be reelected as the President of the country in the February election

This is as he challenged the Presidential candidate of the All Progress Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammed Buhari to come out to the public and present his certificate to the Nigerians, adding that the era of Nigeria being ruled by School Certificate was since over.

Speaking to airport correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos on his arrival from abroad, Fayose explained that the forthcoming presidential election would generate reactions if any of the two major contestants won, but warned that on one had the monopoly of violent.

He maintained that any attempt to bomb President Jonathan out of office or even blackmail him would have a ripple effect on the country, but stressed the election would not be a win-win situation for all parties involved.

He however urged all Nigerians to accept the result of the election, but maintained that President Jonathan would win the election.

He said, “Let me make it clear to all Nigerians, the election is going to be a little bit turbulent, but Jonathan would win the election and there would be reactions to it. Even if Buhari wins the election today, there would be reactions. Attempts to bomb Jonathan out of office, we should know the repercussion.

“We should remember that the economy of this country lies in the South-South, so, we must balance it. If you want to bomb me to blackmail me, you will have the other side of it. Somebody was telling me that the violence would stop if Buhari wins, it shows Buhari and APC are behind it. It is not a win-win situation even for Jonathan, but Nigerians must be ready to accept the result of the election and I can assure you that Jonathan would win.”

On the certificate of Gen. Buhari, Fayose explained that it was not the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to screen candidates, adding that the country doesn’t not equally requires a president who would be teleguided by some selfish groups at the detriment of the country.

He alleged that Buhari does not possess the eloquence, ability and the capacity to lead this country, stressing that at this stage of the country, it required graduates with capacity and to lead the country to the Promised Land.

He insisted that Jonathan despite all the crises in some parts of the country possessed the requisite to lead this country and insisted he would win with landslide victory in the February election.

He recalled that when Buhari was the Head of State, it was late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon that was in the control while during his time as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, the Secretary was more pronounced than him.

“The era where you will say I am leading Nigeria with School Certificate is gone. When you are leading through the promotions in the army, sergeant to corporal, that era is gone. I don’t take people on personal note, but this particular leadership we are looking for must have the competence. Jonathan is the first Nigerian President who has the paper qualification. Gen. Buhari truly doesn’t have the certificate, I have gone through it myself.

“They claimed that I don’t have the certificates and I have gone through the courts including the tribunal. So, what else are we talking about? I want General Buhari too to submit himself for us to check. It is not about popularity alone, you can be popular and not have the capacity for the job. Such a President would be hijacked by mediocre; people who want to use the Presidency as a shield. The same people in the environment of General Buhari had condemned him severally in the past, but today, they are parading him as the best candidate.

“If they had not taken the government away from him as at the time they did, we would all have been gone by now. General Buhari must address the certificate issue in the overall interest of Nigeria. If Ayo Fayose with Higher National Diploma, HND, in a State like Ekiti State is seen as someone without education, so, General Buhari will now come with the Almajiri School and come and lead Nigeria.

“Tell me what General Buhari has turned around in the past? We are Nigerians and we are so gullible like every other human being, before we get to the sea, we begin to imagine the depth on our minds, but at the end of the day, …….before you will give your inner talent, you must have the outer talent because if you don’t have education, you must equally have the right people and put them in the right perspective,” he said.

On the dwindling crude oil prices in the international market and the call for diversification of the economy, Fayose insisted that the present government should not be blamed, rather, put the blame at the door steps of former Nigerian leaders who didn’t lay the foundation for diversification of the economy.

On the crisis in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose insisted that some Honourable members decided to stay away from their duties and said he would not appeal to them to come back, but maintained that any attempt to turn the state into a crisis would be rejected by the people.

“Are you supposed to be a honourable member in Ekiti and sit in Lagos or Osun? If that is their position, I should go and beg them? Forget that. Let them remain in exile. I was in exile for a period of time and heaven didn’t fall. They should remain in exile. If they want to come, let them come.

“The Speaker just called me recently and asking for their Christmas gifts, I told him they should collect from Lagos and Osun State governments or the speaker of those states. But in my state, you were elected by some people and the people had read out the riot act to them that they will not come and destabilize the state. If you attempt it, the power of the people will rise against you because their powere is higher than those of us who are in power.”