The Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has raised the alarm that there are plans by some group of people within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to discredit and pull him down ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The governor has been rumoured to be nursing the ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 but has not declared for the country’s number one seat.
The chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti said the plot from those he described as “entrenched interest” in the APC is aimed at blackmailing and made him unacceptable across the country.
Fayemi explained that his rising profile was giving the said people sleepless nights and was out to smear his reputation with lies in the media, calling on the citizens to disregard the coordinated campaigns that would soon be released.
He said, “The plot, as uncovered, is to use some faceless political groups and political jobbers from different parts of the country to defame the Ekiti State Governor.
“Specifically, the plan is to use the faceless groups to discredit Governor Fayemi and portray him as unacceptable to the generality of the people across the six geo-political zones of the country. This plot is part of their game plan for the 2023 presidential contest.
“Some entrenched interests within the ruling All Progressives Congress, however, seem uncomfortable with the rising profile of the NGF Chairman and have resorted to cheap blackmail aimed at de-marketing him.
“The Nigerian Constitution states clearly the qualifications for the position of the President of the country. Every qualified adult has the right to aspire to the number one position. Therefore, we do not believe it is proper, decent, or strategic for any aspirant to think his campaign can only gather momentum when he destroys the reputation of a fellow citizen who is perceived as a possible opponent.
“We urge members of the public to disregard the potpourri of lies and cheap blackmail that could be released in the coming days, while the promoters of this smear campaign are advised to concentrate on marketing their aspiration to the good people of Nigeria without recourse to defamation or character assassination of perceived competitors.”
The statement added that Fayemi’s major preoccupation is to finish well as the governor of the state and would not be distracted with the intricacies of the 2023 politics, adding, “ Dr Fayemi has not told anyone that he is in the race for the Presidency of Nigeria.”
“He has always maintained that he is on duty in Ekiti and would like to concentrate on that assignment. What he does afterward is in the hands of God and he will cross that bridge at the appropriate time,” he said.
