The Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development and an aspirant for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has offered reasons why others aspirants for the party’s ticket are vehemently opposed to him.
Fayemi offered the explanation on Saturday when he spoke with newsmen shortly after the suspension of the primaries that was supposed to produce the party’s candidate for the July 14, 2018 election.
The primaries was suspended after delegates from five local government areas had cast their votes, with some delegates and agents of opposition aspirants throwing the ballot boxes off the tables.
Some were heard chanting anti-Fayemi slogans.
Reacting to the development, Fayemi said: “These things were done by people I have helped.
“God could have used anybody to help anybody.
“But these were people that I took up the political ladder.
“Let me say it clearly: the gang up is a product of political treachery.
“When we lost in 2015, the same characters set up the Action Group within the party.
“They worked against my emerging as President Muhammadu Buhari’s minister.
“They believe my emergence as the governorship candidate is a political tragedy for them.
“They are projecting what they would have done if they were in my shoes.
“But I am not like them.
“I do not intend to exact any revenge.
“Segun Oni contended with me in 2017.
“He is not my enemy.
“I have not been vindictive towards him.”
Asked of the possibility of some of the aspirants working with the Peoples Democratic Party-led State Government in Ekiti State, Fayemi said: “Some of the aspirants have been in meetings with Governor Ayo Fayose.
“But they should realise this is not just an assault on me personally but on the party.
“The PDP and Fayose want a weak candidate.
“They have been saying this all over.
“Fayose’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, said it explicitly in an interview he granted The PUNCH newspaper.
“That I will be a threat to them if I emerge the candidate.
“But what the APC aspirants should know is that this is anti-party.
“What happened today is a symptom of a deeper malaise.
“It is not the malaise only.”
Fayemi insisted that the process that started on Saturday for the emergence of the party’s candidate must be continued and not started all over again as it will be a disservice to the delegates from the five local government areas who have voted.