I am controversial because I am courageous, fearful – Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, the Ekiti State governor Friday declared that he is a controversial person because he is courageous and fearful to do things other people dread to do.

Fayose, who made the declaration while delivering the 10th convocation lecture of the Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin-City, said other people lack courage and are fearful to take risk.

“I am a controversial person because I does things other people dread to do because they lack courage and are fearful”, he said.

The governor, who opined that President Muhammadu Buhari had reached a stage of diminishing return, said Nigerians made a grave mistake voting him into office as president of the country during the 2015 presidential election.

According to him, “you can only give your best at your best. Our president is at diminishing return as at today. I should be quoted.

“We cannot all sleep and face one direction. Idahosa did not do these things when he was close to his grave; he did them at his prime when he had the energy to make a difference.

“How do you give laptop or ipad to above seventy years old man? How can we continue to struggle with our sons for positions meant for them?” he queried.

While noting that the time has come for Nigerian youths to pilot the affairs of the nation, he added that under his watch, nobody above the age of 50 will become a council chairman while the maximum age for a councilor will be 35.

He however, advised youths not to inherit the enemies of their political leaders they know nothing about.

He also described Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as Yoruba leader.

“Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is our leader in Yorubaland, forget politics and it does not matter he is in the APC,” he added.

He further disclosed that he withdrew his sons from Olashore International School in Osun State and put them in SUBEB schools in Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

He said his sons attended institutions in Nigeria as against many well-to-do Nigerians who will say one thing and do the opposite.

The governor, however, called for a review of the revenue allocation formula, pointing out that a situation whereby the Federal Government pockets 52 percent of the allocation was awkward because the challenges facing the country reside in the state.

“How will the Federal Government take 52 percent when the problems are in the state? The Federal Government must shed its weight and allow states do the works for them.

“Federal Government must take 22 percent and states take 52 percent. The Federal Government has taken more than they can do, more than they can deliver,” he stated.

He revealed that the late tele-evangelist, Benson Idahosa, got his father converted to born-again Christian at a crusade in Ibadan, Oyo State, in 1980 and that his father later sowed the family’s only car to propagate the gospel.

‎He charged the management of BIU to sustain the vision of the late Archbishop Idahosa, saying the man of God could see far beyond his peers when he was alive.

Fayose said handlers of the education sector must live their words and put those concerned on the driver seat.

 

IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, BENIN