The move was the first official visit of the governors to Tinubu since he returned from London where he had reportedly undergone a knee surgery and rested for some months.

Since his arrival, important personalities across the country have been trooping into his house in a courtesy visit and show of solidarity. It was on this note the Governors from the region decided to register their visit on Tuesday evening. But Ekiti state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was conspicuously absent from the team of governors that made the trip.

His absence has triggered speculations in the public as many believe that he was not on the same page with the National Leader at the party level. Some are of the opinions that his absence has to do with the presidential ambition two of them are nursing under the same political party.

However, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu while speaking with journalists after the meeting clarified that notion and gave reason Fayemi was not in the team.

According to him, there was a meeting of the South West governors in Governor’s House at Marina Lagos earlier in the day before the scheduled visit to Tinubu. Fayemi was said to have left Lagos immediately after the meeting to catch a flight to Port Harcourt where he was billed to give a kyenote address at the ongoing NBA conference.

There was no how Fayemi could have met up with that scheduled assignment if he had followed them to Tinubu’s house. The clarification made by Akeredolu which was also issued in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olabode appears to have douse the tension and speculation about Fayemi’s absence during the visit.

Recall that Fayemi had earlier visited the APC National Leader alongside Akeredolu during his stay in London.

His absence right now should not have made much difference if not for the political connotation that is attached to the scenario.

It might be true that both of them are eyeing the ticket of the party to contest the 2023 presidential election but non of them have officially declared their interest to contest the election. Everything still exists in the realm of speculation.

Hence, Fayemi’s absence during the visit to Tinubu has nothing to do with politics or his presidential ambition but it was due to his scheduled assignment in Port Harcourt as explained by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.