Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has broken his silence on the visit in August to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London. The governor, who spoke on Arise TV, said the visit was to show support for a “friend and elder” and not connected to the 2023 presidency.
“He (Akeredolu) and I were in London together to see our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but it had absolutely nothing to do with 2023 presidential plans whatsoever. That’s not the reason why we went there,” Fayemi told Arise TV.
“Asiwaju has just had surgery. It is simply proper etiquette or behaviour both in the part of the country where I come from but also generally that when a friend and elder is undergoing health challenges, it would be improper on your part not to show solidarity and support.That is simply what took us there; we wanted to associate ourselves with him at a time of need and as an elder, as a mentor and as a big figure in our political party, nothing wrong in paying him a courtesy visit to check on him to see how he was faring and we did that and we returned. It has nothing to do with 2023; let me make that absolutely clear.”
Over 30 politicians have visited Tinubu, in London, in the last two months.
Notable amongst the politicians include President Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; as well as Fayemi and Akeredolu.
Others include House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; ex-Governor of Ogun State and current Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun; former Governor of Borno State and current Senator representing Borno Central, Kashim Shettima.
