Kayode Fayemi, Minister for Solid Minerals, has officially declared his intention to join the 2018 governorship race ahead of the Ekiti State polls.
He publicly announced his ambition on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital promising to restore the ‘Land of Honour’ to its former glory.
“We are on the march again. We are not on the march again simply because we want to be addressed as His Excellency. We are not on the march again simply because of a position,” he said.
“We are not on the march again because of a title. We are on a march again as a duty to our people. We are on a march again because we must conquer poverty.”
Fayemi who addressed a mammoth crowd in the state capital appeared on a white polo bearing his name and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under whose platform he intends to achieve his governorship dream
Although the Minister is yet to resign his ministerial position as a member of the Federal Executive Council under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, he was however quick to criticise the state governor, Ayodele Fayose.
He blamed the level of poverty on the state government whom he accused of not maintaining some people-oriented policies when he lost to Fayose in the 2014 governorship election.
He added, “We were the first to pay core subject allowance to teachers but what is happening today? Teachers in this state are owed 10 months’ salary. Pensioners are owed ten months salary. Civil servants in the state are owed six months’ salary.”
While showing the crowd a red card, he gave the people an assurance of using the card to sack the current government governed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
