The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who was described recently by Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu as someone who has a staunch disdain for the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has spoken up once again regarding the president and his health.
Ayodele Fayose who had in a recent statement released some weeks ago maintained that the Nigerian president who has spent over 90 days away from the country was placed on life support adding that the cabal within his administration is stage managing him has revealed his real bone of contention with the Nigerian president.
Known to be a critic of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, Ayo Fayose during a recent interview with Punch also revealed the suspected reason why he was exempted from the delegation of Governors who visited the Nigerian president in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.
Read excerpts of the interview granted by the Ekiti State Governor below:
You said you have 11 damaging photos to prove President Muhammadu Buhari’s health is deteriorating. How do you feel when governors and aides close to Buhari are saying the President is recovering?
We thank God that the President is able to come up and talk that he is hale and hearty. My statement put pressure on the Federal Government – because since the President left no one heard anything about his health status. If you listened to the Ebonyi State Governor (Dave Umahi), he said it was a miracle that the President recovered. If something is a miracle, it means that what I said about the President’s health was the truth. With due respect, everything I have said is the truth and remains the truth. The fact that one is placed on life support does not mean that the person cannot recover. But the question should be: does one have the health to continue with rigorous work of office?
Do you think you should have been included on the list of governors invited to the United Kingdom to see Buhari?
I’m indifferent. Nigerians wanted me to be there. But I believe in the judgment of my colleagues. If Nigerians wanted me to be there but they (Buhari’s handlers) didn’t give me the access, what can I do? I have to move on and join them to wish the President well. What is important is Nigeria. When Senator (John) McCain was sick in the United States, he came out boldly to say he had a brain tumour. The health of the President is a public issue. It is the handlers that are causing the confusion.
Like I said, I don’t want the President dead, but we want to know the true state of health of our president. For me, I’ll love to go there (the UK) to see (him). But if they say they are not giving me a passage, it is all well and good, as long as the President is hale and hearty. If he is not fit, let him resign.
Why do you think the presidency failed to include you on the list of the latest visitors to Buhari in the UK?
The President denied drawing the list, saying it was the governors’ forum. I’m not desperate to go there. If they feel it is important I represent – if not, I’m still an opposition figure. Many people are not comfortable with me and I don’t blame them. They may feel I would want to come and tell Nigerians what actually transpired there. But I cannot lie; I can’t say what is not true; I can’t make up things. I can’t celebrate lies. That does not mean that my colleagues that went there are lying. What we are praying for is that the President should get well.
Do you have any personal relationship with President Buhari?
None whatsoever.
If you have the opportunity to meet him, what will you tell him?
I will wish him well – and that, if he is not fit to continue (to rule the country) he should resign. What else would I say? Everything I have said, I will stand by it. The offices of the president and governors require a lot of energy. Whatever interest we represent, we cannot deny that. Our adversaries – our opponents – know that we are saying the truth. But because they are the beneficiaries of what is going on, they will defend it. But I’m not afraid of speaking the truth. Truth heals and endures.