Ekiti State Governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose is
famous for his controversies. On Saturday,
ahead of President Muhammed Buhari’s arrival
from London, Fayose declared himself as
Nigeria’s president in-waiting.
He spoke at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo
–the Taraba State capital during the funeral
service of former Governor, Danbaba Danfulani
Suntai.
The Ekiti governor came when all other
dignitaries were seated and the occasion had
begun.
He waved at the gathering, acknowledging
cheers which briefly interrupted the service.
He wore a white garment with brief arms and
white half-shoe to match.
As he strode in, some people initially had
mistaken him for former President Goodluck
Jonathan, in spite of their stark difference in
body frame and height.
Leading Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo
of Gombe State and Plateau State Governor
Simon Lalong to the podium to offer their
condolences and tributes, Fayose stirred a
melodrama. Twice, he called himself president
in-waiting.
He humorously thanked the moderator, GT
Kataps for giving him the chance to step on
the podium.
“Thank you for giving me the chance. Maybe I
am the president in-waiting,” he said. There
was a thunder of laughter and cheers from the
audience.
As he made his speech, members of a women
choral group began to make noise. “Women
should not make noise, especially when a
president in-waiting is talking,” he said. Again,
he was cheered up by fans.
He based his tribute on “courage and
fearlessness” which he is known for, which
were also attributes of late former Governor
Danbaba Danfulani Suntai.
But when it was the turn of the Plateau State
Governor Simon Lalong to speak, he told
Fayose that there was no qualm since his
presidency was a waiting type.
Lalong said: “Thank God you are a waiting
president. You will wait for my President, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari; he is returning today; you
will welcome him.”
It was a few hours after Lalong’s speech that
President Buhari arrived the Presidential wing
of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Lalong is of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), while Fayose is of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
Fielding questions from newsmen, Fayose said
he attended Suntai’s funeral because the
deceased was an achiever, and particularly
when Governor Darius Ishaku of the PDP won
his election in the court he celebrated the
victory in Ekiti too.