Fayose: When I saw ‘old man’ Buhari beside the President of France, I said ‘Oh my God’

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has fired yet another shot at President Muhammadu Buhari whom he believes is too old to lead the country.

At a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, the governor commented on the visit of President Emmanuel Macron of France to Nigeria.

Aged 40 years, Macron is one of the youngest leaders in the world. His Nigerian counterpart is 75 years old.

Fayose said Nigerians deserve a younger president.

"We are having these problems in our country because an old man is our president. When I saw the picture of President Buhari and the president of  France, I said 'Oh my God'," he said.

"This country does not deserve to be led by an old man."

Fayose also said he had been asked to come out to receive Buhari who is expected in the state on Tuesday but that he would not do so.

It is a tradition for governors, irrespective of political differences, to receive the president whenever he visits their states.

"I got a letter yesterday, they said I should come and receive Mr. President because he is coming on the 10th. But I'm not coming. Receive him for what? I cannot receive him. The president has not done 100 metres of road in Ekiti," he said.

Fayose at the rally

"They said I should tell director of SSS to come to Abuja, the director that is Kayode Fayemi's friend, what is my business with that?"

The governor also accused the federal government of closing nearby Akure airport in Ondo state, so PDP leaders would not be able to attend the party's rally in Ekiti.

"I want to condemn the federal government here today," he said.

"Whosoever has taken that action is very shameful. That's not the spirit of democracy. Why did you close the Akure airport today? You closed Akure airport so that our leaders will not come to this rally. Today, we are now landing at Ilorin and Ibadan. That is not patriotic. That's shameful and unleader-like."

Fayose did not spare the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in his accusations.

INEC, Fayose alleged, is planning to rig the July 14 governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

"INEC wants to rig for APC," he said. "We know your plans. We know how you are planning to release ballot papers to the APC. We know what they are planning in Ondo and Kogi states. Ekiti is a no go area."

Calling on his supporters to shun violence, Fayose, however, urged them not to be intimidated.

"If you think you will come and use police to intimidate us, we will follow you bumper to bumper. Since Monday, they've been arresting PDP people. I want to tell you my people, I don't want us to join them violence for violence. The most important day is on the 14th, don't allow them to provoke us. We must be prepared for this election."