The National Leader of Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, and an elder statesman and historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye, have urged Yoruba people to brace up for the presidency in 2023.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti at a colloquium marking the 110th posthumous birthday of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Afenifere leader said Yoruba people must unite to ensure that the geopolitical zone produces the next president.

The 94-year-old Fasanmi, who made a request that Yoruba people should support a candidate who shares the visions of Awolowo, publicly endorsed Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as a possible candidate for the 2023 presidency, citing his decision on the fact that “Fayemi embodies the visions that Awolowo strived to actualize for Nigerians”.

Delivering a paper titled: New Engagements by Progressives,” Prof. Akintoye said Ekiti people could become leaders in the African continent by “investing in the knowledge economy using our education advantage”.

Akintoye, who recalled the huge investment of Awolowo in education, stated that “the progressives idea is the only way to make the people prosper”, adding that Fayemi has the right ideas which are similar to Awo’s.

While stating that the 2023 presidency is not just about pushing for a Yoruba man, the professor of History said it was high time Ekiti people rose up and take the lead because Nigeria needs the values of hard work, excellence and integrity, which they are known for.

Akintoye equally called on Governor Fayemi to rise to the task ahead, stressing that Ekiti people must not let themselves “be intimidated by what exists” but push for “what is right”.

He said: “Decent people of Ekiti should take the lead and help reposition the nation.

“I want to say that in 2023, we Ekiti want to aspire for what we have never aspired for.

“We want to produce the next president of Nigeria.

“We know that it takes the Ekiti character to rebuild Nigeria.

“Kayode (Fayemi) has the right ideas.

“He knows what to do in the management of our affairs.

“We must have the tenacity to push for what we think is right.

“We should not let ourselves be intimidated by what exists.”

While speaking on Nigerian political leadership, Akintoye described Awolowo as a very “influential leader with constructive ideas about how to move Nigeria along the path of progress, success, prosperity and even power”.

Akintoye said Awolowo’s progressive idea focused on a Nigeria that would be orderly, stable and offer increasing economic and social opportunities for all its citizens.

He said: “The economic and social details of progressivism are also well known.

“They include programmes such as free primary and secondary education for all, high quality medical service, free medical service to weaker categories of citizens, gainful employment for all, job skills programmes to qualify every person for employment, good quality transportation, communication, water supply, and electricity supply, integrated rural development to take the benefits of modern life and modern resources to farming and to rural communities.”

In his remarks, Governor Fayemi said it was high time Nigerians raised the standard of development above that which was laid by Awolowo; adding that the former Premier had been the yardstick for measuring the political success of political leaders in decades.

The governor said it was pathetic that the nation is endowed with human and natural resources but has not been able to take the lead in the past years; adding that it was time to do away with “arrested development”.

Fayemi, who also charged Ekiti leaders to rise up for the task ahead, stated that the state should not play the second fiddle in the affairs of progressives in Nigeria.

He said: “We have competence; we have human resources and everything that can help us survive as a nation.

“That was what Chief Awolowo represents today, in Nigeria, we have not seen any statesman like Awolowo.

“That’s why any little thing we do, we make reference to him.

“He is the standard by which we judge development.

“It is time that we raised the standard now.

“We carry the burden of the successor generation and we must deliver to our people.

“This is the time to make concrete improvement in the lives of our people to banish poverty from our people.

“For long, we have not fought for what belongs to us because we are reticent, we don’t want to project ourselves, because we don’t want to be called noise makers.

“Sometimes purposeful noise is strategic communication.

“Awo was not just a politician, he was a public intellectual.

“We must not forget this if we want a developmental democracy.

“The elite should drive and support programmes that aim at lifting the masses because that’s what Awo stood for.

“He was always on the side of the people.

“That is the duty we owe our people.”

http://www.nativereporters.com/2023-afenifere-leaders-push-for-yoruba-presidency/

Ok... That must be the effects of the gin for opening prayers

Biggest betrayal of the century.. That means Atiku's dollars expired in less than 3 weeks.. Cai

Abah....afenifebi....what about atiku/obi...less than a week

Fayemi is not bad. I will be rooting for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo though. Fayemi stand no chance against the powerful Lagos team behind Osinbajo.

Fashola Mr no nonsense we want.

Lets get the campaign for 2023 started...

What's the benefit of presidency when your ethnic group is the only southern people with almajiri system

But why can't we settle down and make life easier for ourselves before talking about 2023

helinues:
Ok... That must be the effects of the gin for opening prayers

Biggest betrayal of the century.. That means Atiku's dollars expired in less than 3 weeks.. Cai

It's another Afenifere faction.

I could probably consider Kayode Fayemi if he's coming out on a popular party platform and if the opposition has no credible alternative.

If Yoruba must produce the next president, my support can only go to the Eastern part of Yoruba land (Ondo and Ekiti), and for a candidate that does not pledge allegiance to that tout and bastard called Tinubu.

ediot Afenifere... They never supported jagaban/APC always playing the opposition card now you wanna produce president...
Las Las Fayemi will be minister under Osibanjo...

You can't reap where you didn't sow...
Afenifebi!!!

The same Afenifere that was singing for Atiku Obi some weeks ago are now touting someone from Ekiti for president

He spoke well until he name mentioned Kayode Fayemi

Odumakin is smoking that shite again.

diadem10:
Odumakin is smoking that shite again.

Read before you criticize. This is not Afenifere speaking.

What is Afenifere?

Xisnin:

Insulting your grandfather because of comprehension problem. Omo Ale.

Hypocrite...
Fayose Verbally Abusing Buhari nko...
Abi People Insulting Buhari nko...That one is respect ba...
Arindin Jati Jati...

what of the IPOB? are they not part of Nigeria

2023 is for them.....

I am Yoruba, but instead of a Igbo to rule us in this country, the Hausas should just continue.

it isnt going to be easy..

check to ship your goods from China to Nigeria at an affordable rate

Lol

Lol, comdians



I'm 100% sure by 2023 it will be another sťùpid hausa ruling us again


The only solution to Nigeria's problem is: the federal government should ask the Custom officers to close Nigeria borders

Then A new Nuclear ballistic missile should be launched in Nigeria, and we will be cleared out of the surface of the earth


That's the only solution
Rubbish country

We claim it! Aaaammeeeeeeeeeen

unless all the fulani don kpai for this world

Is he talking about President of Afenifere?

See me, see trouble!.

Afenifere that voted PDP,now recommending a candidate for APC.

THE GUY VDON GET ALERT ��