In a moving homage, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks the 60th birthday of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti State.
President Tinubu reflected on his decades-long relationship with Dr. Fayemi, which started during the pro-democracy protests of the 1990s, in the tribute he personally wrote on Sunday.
He commended the previous governor’s strategic acumen, dedication, and intelligence, especially in the struggle against military tyranny.
“During the challenging General Sani Abacha era, civil rights and pro-democracy activists, especially those in exile, had to rely on their ingenuity to survive. Kayode’s brilliance, commitment, and strategic skills were invaluable to our cause.
The influence of the former governor of Ekiti went beyond state politics. He was a key player in the historic opposition party merger in 2013, which resulted in the formation of the All-Progressives Congress (APC). In 2014, Fayemi presided over the panel that administered the APC presidential primaries, which resulted in Muhammadu Buhari as the eventual winner.
“Our party’s victory in the 2015 Presidential election, defeating an incumbent president and a ruling party that had vowed to rule Nigeria for 60 unbroken years, was a fitting reward for the hard work, teamwork, and capacity demonstrated by Fayemi, other campaign council members, and party leadership.
“As he turns 60, I wish him continued health and fulfillment in the years ahead,” Tinubu added