—Fayemi congratulates gov-elect
By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti
The winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti state,Mr Ayodele Fayose, has assured that his government would not abandon any project yet to be completed by outgoing Governor Kayode Fayemi.
He said, “As a leader we must learn how to embrace continuity because playing politics with the lives of the people can destroy any country, but love can keep us together forever as a nation.”
INEC had yesterday declared Fayose winner of the election after he pulled a total of 203,090 votes to defeat the incumbent governor, who scored 120,433, while the candidate of the Labour Party, Bamidele Michael Opeyemi, scored 18,135 votes to come third.
The Peoples Democratic Party candidate, in his maiden press conference as governor-elect, co-addressed with Deputy Governor-elect, Dr Olusola Eleka, pleaded with the police to grant unconditional release to whoever is being detained over the political crises that dogged the just concluded electioneering campaign in the state.
Fayose, who dedicated his victory to God and the people of the state, said: “I owe my victory to God and common man in Ekiti. It will be impossible for me to come back eight years after I left the government without their supports,” he said.
He promised to work with Fayemi and Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, the key contestants in the re-election, to build a virile society that would improve on the wellbeing of Ekiti.
Fayose was emphatic that his government would not pursue industrialisation in the next four years, but would place premium on how to empower the people by patronising local contractors for them to be able to stand on their own.
He said he won the election because since his removal in 2006 he had remained with the people.
“My people will never ask me for money; all they ask for me is how to improve on their wellbeing.
“I am a grassroots man. I used to identify with my people. I owe them so dearly and I will continue in this trend.”
Fayose thanked the INEC and other PDP governorship contestants, particularly Fayemi and Bamidele, for accepting defeat.
“This is still Ekiti, the homogenous state that speaks only one language. Four years is very small in the life of any government.
“Fayemi has called me to concede defeat. We will see him tomorrow and let the public know that we are one.
“Ekiti belongs to us all. A governor only gets a term and Ekiti will remain. Fayemi lost election today because the only thing that is constant in life is change.”
Fayose added: “I told you during my campaign that this is Ayo Fayose that is older and wiser and who is ready to work with everybody. Fayemi is my brother and he will forever remain so. He has contributed his own quota to the development of this state.
“I also want to state that whoever suffered any loss during the electioneering campaign will be compensated by the government when assume office.”
Fayose also promised that his performance would surpass the one recorded in his first term as the chief executive of the state “because I want to be Chief Obafemi Awolowo here. As regards performance, I will surely perform because I have promised the people and this has been part of me.”
Fayose added that Ekiti was not poor as being erroneously thought in some sections, saying, “If I could save N10 billion between 2003 and 2006 during my first term, you can imagine what I would do now. It is the manager that must be careful in the management of industries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Fayemi has congratulated Fayose.
In a broadcast yesterday, he said he has no option than to accept the result of the election and congratulate Fayose “if indeed the outcome of the election is the will of the Ekiti people”.
The governor revealed that he had just spoken with Fayose congratulating him on his victory, adding that he would be meeting the governor-elect in the next few hours to fashion out ways to institute a smooth transition programme.
Fayemi described the election as a hard fought one, adding, however, that despite party affiliations, Ekiti people should see themselves as one.
Fayemi noted that the record of performance of his administration would continue to be a reference point in the history of the state, stressing that he has succeeded in raising the bar of excellence in governance.
He said, “Yesterday, Ekiti state decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti state, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the election is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.
“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
“It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavoury episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother.
“Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti state. Ekiti is ours to build together.”
He added: “On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti state. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this state.
“Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
“Indeed, a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti state, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
“To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course.
“The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.”