Fayemi speaks on betraying Tinubu, their relationship since Tinubu supported his first Ekiti guber ambition

As the presidential primary playing field gets crowded in the ruling APC, allies, proteges, and frenemies warming up to contest against APCs national leader Bola Tinubu are giving Nigerians lots of things to speculate about.

Apart from the cold war already freezing the relationship between V.P Yemi Osinbajo and his godfather Tinubu, perceived hostilities are heating up between the latest aspirant Gov Kayode Fayemi and his party national leader.

But it’s not exactly what many think.

Fayemi, the Nigerian Governors Forum chair, said he knows Tinubu well.

“The Asiwaju that I know is a democrat; he believes that politics is a marketplace of ideas and people should test their own convictions,” Fayemi said on Channels TV late Wednesday.

“His  courage of conviction is not in doubt and I do not think he will want to stamp on the convictions of others in terms of how Nigerians should go.”

He spoke further about how his political relations with Tinubu started.

“I’ve had a very good relationship with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whom I met in exile in 1994 when he came out after the annulment of the election and the establishment of NADECO (National Democratic Coalition)…We maintained a very cordial relationship ever since then.

“So, when I was asked by Governor Niyi Adebayo, the current Minister of Trade and Investment, to come and run for office in Ekiti, Asiwaju supported me; he was out there for me because of his knowledge of my involvement in the pro-democracy movement and we’ve worked together on a number of issues.”

Fayemi brushed aside the speculation Tinubu is feeling entitled, and that he sees all other aspirants from the southwest as Judases.

He said he doesn’t believe there is a basis for demonizing anyone.

“The Asiwaju that I know, that I have interacted with would not subscribe to that. I don’t believe that he will use terminologies like betrayal.”

But the two, however, have their differences.

While Tinubu said becoming Nigeria’s president is a life’s ambition for him to change Nigeria, Fayemi said his is not.

“Running for office is not an ambition; I’ve always maintained that it is service, it is sacrifice; it is duty.”