Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has explained why Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was absent during the visit of Southwest Governors to the residence of National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
TheNiche had earlier reported that Akeredolu on Tuesday led other Southwest Governors to visit Tinubu at his Bourdillon-Ikoyi residence in Lagos State but the absence of Fayemi generated comments about possible feud over the 2023 presidential election.
But Akeredolu, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, stated that Fayemi attended the Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting held earlier at Lagos House, Marina but had to leave for Port Harcourt where he was a guest speaker at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference dinner.
Akeredolu explained that his clarification on Fayemi’s absence during the visit was due to various insinuations and reactions in the media.
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According to him: “Governor Fayemi was with us at the Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting held earlier at the Lagos House in Marina. He had to leave to catch a late flight to Port Harcourt where he was billed to attend the NBA Conference dinner.
“He sent his apology to Asiwaju as well as his good wishes. The rest of us who visited Asiwaju’s residence tendered same and extended Fayemi’s good wishes.”
Akeredolu said the visit was to demonstrate their love for the former Lagos Governor and wish him well after his return to the country.
After the earlier meeting at Lagos House, Marina, Akeredolu who addressed the media said: “We, the six Governors of the Southwest under the Southwest Governors Forum met today. We deliberated on a number of common and personal issues. We also deliberated on our common heritage, which is the Oodua Group of Companies.
“At the end, we agreed on a few things; a number of them, which have to do with security, are not what we can discuss in the open. This short address is just to let you (pressmen) know we met today but we don’t want our decisions discussed in the open.”
Akeredolu also spoke after meeting with Tinubu at his private residence in Bourdillion, Ikoyi.
“We deemed it fit to visit our leader who has returned home successfully and who is hale and hearty and to the glory of God almighty. That is why we have visited him.”
He said the whole Soutwest believes in the leadership of Tinubu.
“He has shown that he is doing his best to lead us, as he is not only a leader of the Southwest but a leader of the entire nation and the southwest lays first claim to him,” Akeredolu further said.