Ekiti State governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will formally declare his intention to run for the position of president of the country tomorrow in Abuja.
The Wednesday declaration, tagged “Unveiling My Nigeria Agenda”, is the climax of the governor’s extensive consultations across the geo-political zones in the last six weeks.
According to Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, it will also lay to rest speculations on whether he would run for the Presidency or not.
Fayemi had, after discussing his plan to run for the number one office with President Mohammadu Buhari last month, sought counsel, guidance and support from traditional and political leaders across states in the federation.
Oyebode said, Fayemi kick-started the consultation in Owo, Ondo State, where he met with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye.
Owo is renowned as the seat of progressive politics in the country, being the birth place of the defunct Action Group, AG, led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Born on February 9, 1965, Dr. Fayemi holds degrees in History and International Relations from the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University respectively, a Doctorate in War Studies from King’s College, University of London and is a Fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan.
His research and policy development interests include: Natural Resource Governance, Democratisation, Constitutionalism, Security Sector Governance, Civil-Military Relations and Regionalism in the Global Context.
Fayemi was the founding director of the Centre for Democracy & Development, CDD, a research and training institute dedicated to the study and promotion of democratisation, peace-building and human security in Africa.
As a central figure in the coalition of civil society actors that resisted oppressive military rule in Nigeria in the early 1990s, he was central to the founding and running of opposition radio stations while in exile.
His role in the struggle to restore democratic governance in Nigeria is documented in his book Out of the Shadows: Exile and the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in Nigeria (CDD, 2005).
His other publications include: Mercenaries: The African Security Dilemma, co-edited with Abdel-Fatau Musah (Pluto Press, 2000); Deepening the Culture of Constitutionalism: The Role of Regional Institutions in Constitutional Development in Africa (CDD, 2003); and Security Sector Governance in Africa: A Handbook (co-edited with Nicole Ball, CDD, 2004); Reclaiming the Trust (Amandla, 2012); Regaining the Legacy (Amandla, 2013); and Legacy of Honour and Service (Amandla, 2014). His most recent book, “Unfinished Greatness”, (which was unveiled in February), articulates his vision of a Nigeria Agenda that is inclusive, progressive, equitable and people centred
Fayemi is a prominent member of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, and chaired the party’s National Convention Planning Committee that produced President Mohammadu Buhari as Presidential Candidate for the 2015 general election. He also served as the Director, Policy Research and Strategy of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
He was Governor of Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014.
He served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development in the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2015 and 2018.
As Minister, he led the administration’s efforts in repositioning the Nigerian Mining sector to contribute optimally to the priority agendas of diversifying the country’s revenue base and creating jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians.
He resigned as Minister to contest the governorship of Ekiti State for a second term in 2018.
He won the election and was inaugurated for a second term as Governor of Ekiti State on October 16, 2018.
He is married to Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the renowned women’s and children’s rights advocate, international development specialist, writer and social entrepreneur and blessed with a son.
He has received several awards and recognitions at home and abroad, and holds the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.
