By Bologi M. Maikudi
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has backed out of the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
Fayose announced the withdrawal of his ambition while receiving two presidential aspirants; former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and former minister, Taminu Turaki, who visited to lobby him and delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
He said he had to drop the ambition as a mark of sympathy and concern for his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, who lost in the last gubernatorial election in the state.
“I dropped the presidential ambition because of the stolen mandate freely given to my deputy. As a good leader, I cannot abandon my loyal deputy whose mandate was stolen by the APC and be pursuing another ambition.
“My posters are there in a room. I am committed to the recovery of the mandate, for now, more than anything else,” he said.
Fayose had not only opened campaign offices but also came out with branded vehicles to campaign for the presidential slot.
The two visiting presidential aspirants assured PDP members in Ekiti that the party would regain power in 2019.
They urged the Ekiti delegates to consider their candidature so as to make the dream become a reality.
