Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Friday lamented fighting with ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, regretting his action.
Fayose said he paid dearly for fighting Buhari because he had been under trial for seven years.
In 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Fayose, alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lieutenant A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye before a Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 counts of money laundering.
Fayose and the others were arraigned for allegedly laundering about N1.219 billion.
The money was said to be part of N4.7 billion allegedly transferred from an account belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
However, featuring on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” on Friday, Fayose recalled that security operatives hit him on his neck, a situation that warranted three surgeries.
According to Fayose: “When I said I must fight Buhari throughout, I paid dearly for it. I have been in court for the last seven years. They hit me on my neck, and I had three surgeries.
“In politics of survival, you won’t blame those that are trying to survive, I won’t blame the governors or anybody.”
Fayose also commented on the disposition of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike in his current politics, politicking and political battles.
While calling for peace between Wike and aggrieved PDP chieftains, Fayose alluded to his experience in the PDP ti contextualise the Wike battle.
“When I was in the PDP, I stood my ground and handed over to Wike as my younger brother, he was not as hot as I was then. But when you see a troublemaker who is bigger than you are, you will take it easy.
“That is why I said when a Wike is fighting, you must find a way to ‘melembe’ so that you are not consumed by the trouble.
“All that PDP needs is peace and nothing more. You can’t build a family with everybody around you mad and self-seekers,” he added.
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