Why Fayose is Not Among 7 Govervors Visiting Buhari

Wed, Jul 26, 2017 | By publisher


Politics

THE presidency has explained why Governor Fayose of Ekiti State, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors forum, is not one of the seven governors chosen to visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London, saying it was handled by the governors forum.

The delegation led by Abdulaziz Yari, chairman of Governors Forum, has Governors of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, Umar Gandoje of Kano State, Kassim Shettima of Borno State, the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom who has been out of the country for about two weeks, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo state as members.

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, told State House correspondents on the visit of the seven governors that the presidency had no hand in the selection of the delegates to London.

Adesina who made the clarification while fielding question on why Fayose of Ekiti Statewas left out on the delegation said, “The selection was by the governors forum and you will see that the delegation is headed by governor Yari who is chairman of that forum. So that question should go to the forum.”

He explained that unlike the previous visit to the president made by only members of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, governors, this delegation was on a broader platform, the NGF, with membership also drawn from the opposition. Adesina, however, informed that he did not have information on who was sponsoring the trip.

On why the president preferred the broadcast option while addressing Nigerians, he said, “It is a question of what he prefers and this is what he prefers for now. He would rather receive that delegation and that is what is happening. If the president opts for address option he will do it.”

He said: “Instead of being curious, it should be the right time for the visit. When somebody has recovered or something has happened, it’s in our culture to visit such a person. So, this is the right time to visit the president because the news is that he is recovering and recovering well.”

He could not confirm whether the president will return in two weeks time as announced by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state after he led APC governors and party leaders to see Buhari last Wednesday, had assured that the president could return to Nigeria within two weeks.

On when the president will return, Adesina stated: “That already is in public domain. He will come back when the doctors certify. It is in the letter he wrote to the AU chairman which was made public this afternoon (Tuesday). It also contains that one. He said he was just waiting for his doctors to tell him all is well and then he will return home.

“If anybody is giving a timeline, that person might have information that we don’t have yet. But the information at our disposal is that the president will return as soon as his doctors give him the go ahead.”

Also, Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, said: “The visit is a goodwill visit and there is nothing more than that. I believe Nigerians in various position have yearned to go meet the president and at some point this obviously has not been permitted.

“But given the change in circumstances, you can see that coming from London itself and from the president is welcoming. Is a goodwill visit. As a cultural people, we visit people leaving hospital and I’m sure the president himself will be delighted to see people coming from six geo-political zones, coming to convey the goodwill of Nigerians.”

On the absence of presidential media aide on the London trip, he said it may be a way for government to save money. He said: “Well, how about you thinking about it this way? Probably, we will be saving money. Let me tell you, you know I have respects for photographers, we all do and the cameramen. Bayo Omoboriwo (Personal Photographer to the President), is on the flight which is more important than me being there, which he is.

“They say a picture conveys more than a thousand words. Bayo will be there and I think it will be more beneficial to Nigerians than if the Special Adviser was on that trip without a cameraman,” he said.

– July 26, 2017 @ 11:30 GMT |

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