Fayemi's Political Bombshells: 'I Should Have Been President,' Tinubu's Rise, and Obi's 'Phenomenon'

Former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi recently made a significant assertion regarding his presidential ambitions, stating that he believes he would have emerged as Nigeria's president in the 2023 election had he not withdrawn his candidacy in favor of President Bola Tinubu. This revelation was made during an interview on the 'State Affairs' podcast, hosted by Edmund Obilo and published on YouTube. When prompted by the host about the possibility of his presidential emergence if he had remained in the race, Fayemi unequivocally responded in the affirmative.

Fayemi was indeed among the aspirants vying for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general election. However, he ultimately stepped down to support President Tinubu during the party's primary election in 2022, a decision he now reflects upon as potentially altering the course of the presidential contest.

Further into the interview, Fayemi recounted a notable incident at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in May, where he played a pivotal role in facilitating an interaction between President Tinubu and the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Both Fayemi and Obi, attending the ceremony as Catholics, were seated a few rows behind President Tinubu. The initial exchange was prompted by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who approached them to exchange greetings.

Following this, Fayemi suggested to Obi that they should also greet the President. According to Fayemi, he told Obi, "Peter, please let us go." Obi initially expressed concerns that such a meeting could be misinterpreted or misrepresented in the media. However, he eventually agreed to join Fayemi. Upon their approach, President Tinubu, known for his quick wit, responded jovially. Fayemi quoted Tinubu as retorting, "Kayode, what are you saying? I should be the one welcoming you because I am the leader of the Nigerian delegation." Obi then acknowledged Tinubu's position as the leader of the Nigerian delegation and expressed gratitude for his attendance at the inauguration.

In addition to these personal insights, the former governor recently weighed in on national economic policy, comparing President Tinubu's handling of the fuel subsidy removal with that of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference in Abuja, Fayemi highlighted the challenges Jonathan faced in attempting to remove the fuel subsidy.

Fayemi asserted that Jonathan failed to withstand political pressure, despite having support from some governors at the time. In contrast, he commended President Tinubu for courageously removing the subsidy at the very beginning of his administration, acknowledging the significant criticism and economic hardships that followed the decision. This comparison underscored Fayemi's perspective on the political will and leadership required to implement such a sensitive economic reform.