Former Nigerian leader, Muhammadu Buhari, has recalled the role played by former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, in the coming together of opposition political parties prior to the 2015 general election.

Buhari stated this in his good will message to Fayemi on the occasion of his 60th birth anniversary.

Fayemi, a two-time governor of Ekiti State, also briefly served as a minister under the Buhari administration.

Buhari described the former governor as a beloved friend and colleague, one-of-a-kind public figure, who stands tall as a statesman and a leader.

“Fayemi paid an instrumental role in the coming together of our disparate political parties into a single, strong opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, the APC which did the unthinkable in 2015- ousting of a ruling party through the ballot box for the first time in Nigeria, an election that put me, an opposition candidate in office as president,” Buhari said in a message he signed on Friday.

“His contributions to the presidential campaign both as its director of policy and as a key figure in the struggle for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria through his various struggles in the defunct NADECO and other fora promoting freedom and democracy would continue to be remembered by political leaders across the country.

“His dedication to building a nation where everyone is free and equal while always putting the welfare of the people first marks him out as an outstanding example of a leader with good character.

“When he lost the governorship election in 2014 after one term in office, he never carried any trace of bitterness against party men who worked against his success or against those in the opposition party that succeeded him, even when some of them stooped to new lows by going to the extent of calling him names and distorting the very fine records he left behind in office. Any ordinary leader would have buckled, but JKF was made differently.

“Instead, he went back to the drawing board, calculated and re-calculated, redesigned a path to the State House and was able to convince the people to give him another chance four years after he left the office, to continue the business of building Ekiti State, which he proudly did in the second and final term.

“I am truly proud of my association with Governor Fayemi as a party man, a minister, and a governor.

“May the Almighty Lord grant him a long life in good health and keep him for the family, friends, and the nation.”

‘You helped me become President’ – Buhari hails Fayemi at 60