In a candid interview on Channels TV, former Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, acknowledged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) owes the Nigerian people an apology for failing to deliver on many of their promises.
Fayemi, who served as the governor of Ekiti State, was asked if the party owed Nigerians an apology for its role in removing former President Goodluck Jonathan from office in 2015. He responded affirmatively, saying, “Oh, clearly, we must apologize to the Nigerian people. We have not succeeded in achieving everything we promised to Nigerian people.”
The APC chieftain admitted that while incompetence was part of the reason for the party’s failure to fulfill its pledges, there were also significant structural challenges that impeded progress. He said, “That’s not just because we were incompetent, but because there were other structural impediments that have made things more difficult for us.”
Despite the setbacks, Fayemi stressed that the party must take responsibility and work harder to improve the lives of Nigerians. “We can do a lot more. An apology, well, it may give us a feel-good factor, a feel-good vibes or feelings, but that’s not really what we need. We need to get our act together,” he said.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Fayemi expressed his gratitude to influential figures like the Enahoros and Wole Soyinka, who guided him in his early years. “I have been extraordinarily fortunate, I must admit, have stood on the shoulders of giants,” he remarked.
Fayemi, along with his wife, has committed to empowering Africa’s youth, emphasizing the need to help them become better leaders. “I have a duty to the youth of Africa to find a way to enable them to become better actors than I have been,” he concluded.