The Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial district, Senator Fatai Buhari has confirmed his ambition to contest as the governor of Oyo state in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
The Ogbomosho born All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain revealed this on Wednesday, 30th March, 2022 while he laid emphasis on merit, suitability and competence rather than zoning as the yardstick to selecting candidates.
Buhari, who according to The Nation Online did not repudiate zoning, but believed his academic credentials, work profile and achievements as a member of the National Assembly attested to his experience and capacity.
While rolling out some of his plans for the people of Oyo state, the chairman, Senate Committee on Transportation, unfolded a robust agricultural policy, saying he would make willing graduates to serve in the state for the second time after their mandatory service year.
He said Agric facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry would be made available to them, while agricultural officers would be engaged on the field.
Buhari said those who might wish to continue their agricultural business after serving for the second term would be supported, stressing that the programme would herald employment, greater revenue and food sufficiency.
He said agriculture could also be developed through infrastructural development, particularly the extension of rail lines to rural areas, to facilitate the movement of farm produce to the market.
Buhari refrained from directly criticising the Governor Seyi Makinde administration, saying at the appropriate time, a searchlight would be beamed on his scorecard.
He said he had lived to expectation as a federal legislator, adding that his bills and resolutions, and his empowerment programmes had impacted on his constituents.
He said he will adopt former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu’s style of governance in Oyo, if he elected, particularly his selection of best hands to run the state and succession formula Q
Buhari lamented the crisis that had seized Oyo APC, noting that conflicts were not peculiar to the chapter.
He urged the National Chairman, Senator Adamu Bello, to intervene.
The senator lamented that the chapter had not learnt lessons from its 2019 defeat, which was embarrassing.
He resisted the consensus controversy, saying it could not be properly forged on the convention podium.
