24th February, 2015
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, southwest, Nigeria has come hard on his Ekiti counterpart, Ayodele Fayose over his recent comments and continuous scathing remarks about the health status of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, stating that, the former head of state his sronger than loquacious Fayose.
Amosun disclosed that a true son of Yoruba must be cultured enough to have respect for elders and declared that it was not in the character of any true son of Yoruba race to wish anybody death.
It would be recalled that Fayose alleged that Buhari had gone for a medical check-up in the United Kingdom because of his failing health rubbishing the claims by APC that he was on a working visit.
Fayose’s recent remarks came on the heels of the ongoing visit by Buhari and some leaders of the APC to the United Kingdom, where he (Buhari) met former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and is billed to speak at the Chatam House on Thursday among other engagements.
Amosun dismissed all the rumours peddled around by Fayose concerning the visit of the APC presidential candidate to the United Kingdom.
The governor, who was in the entourage of Buhari to UK arrived the country yesterday and declared that Buhari is more stronger than Fayose himself.
Amosun said he had to struggle to catch up with the 72-year old retired General, despite being 15 years younger.
Amosun stated this on Monday in Abeokuta while speaking with newsmen after meeting with 705 Community Development Associations, CDA’s and Cooperative Societies in the State.
“It’s a big shame from the quarters where the allegation came from. We are Yoruba. There is an unwritten rule that says “Even if we are quarrelling, it is not to wish each other’s dead”.
“Even in this instance, we are not fighting. We want to represent our people. How can a sane person wish somebody else dead?. It is a disgrace to our race as Yoruba for somebody to be wishing another person dead.
“For your information, General Muhammadu Buhari is even stronger than the character that is saying the man is weak, maybe because of the military background. It is like saying Baba Obasanjo is too old.”
“For his age he walks pretty fast, I had to play catch up most of the time. This is the man that is very agile, we are even telling him that you have to slow down. This is the man that we met together with Tony Blair. We left the place and we went to about five different places. The man is hale and hearty.
“Even when we went to Ben Television, I told him ‘you can’t follow me, you have to go home’. He was willing, he was ready even in the cold. The man was walking round,” the governor revealed.
He further berated the ruling party for going viral on the internet with falsehood, on the purported visit of Buhari to a London hospital.
“What kind of politics are we playing in this part of the world. Is this how it’s being played in other parts of the world?,No. You can see the Photoshop they are using. They are saying a lot of rubbish,this is not politics. It is descending to an abysmal level and I think all lovers of democracy and all lovers of humanity should caution them.
“Politics shouldn’t be like this; saying that he (Buhari) has three months to live. They are just talking rubbish. Politics will finish. Where would they be when you begin to talk this rubbish? I think it is a big shame and I think they are descending to a level that is unheard of, that negates reasonableness and good thinking. It is against our tradition as Yoruba,” Amosun declared.