Ayo Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State has reacted to a statement made by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), who described former governors of the state as having underperformed during their tenure.
The former governor while speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, stated that contrary to Babalola’s assertion, all past governors of the state did their best and made significant contributions to Ekiti’s development.
However, Fayose expressed his respect for the ABUAD founder, stating that he remains a leader whom he holds in high regard and with whom he would prefer not to engage in any disputes on any issue.
The former governor made these remarks in response to Babalola’s comments on Monday, where he asserted that all governors who previously managed the state’s affairs before the incumbent, Biodun Oyebanji, failed to adequately develop it.
Fayose expressed his belief that Babalola must have been misquoted, pointing out that in 2018, Babalola described him as a patriot not only to Ekiti State and the Yoruba race but also to Nigeria.
He reiterated his respect for Babalola, emphasizing that they would continue to honour him as their leader and refrain from engaging in any disputes with him.
“He is our leader, we owe everything to him, we cannot join issues with him, we will continue to respect him. In this case, he must have been misquoted,” Fayose stated.
The former governor explained that everyone who has governed the state in the past tried, as no one could finish the job in his lifetime.
Fayose stressed that Babalola himself is trying at everything he is doing, but that he would not finish every good thing he intends to achieve.