Few hours after he was returned as the winner of the Ekiti gubernatorial election, Mr. Ayodele Fayose sat down for an interview session with a group of journalists in his family-owned Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti. He spoke on his perception of his victory, his plans for the state and the political permutations that would usher his successor in office.
How do you see your victory at the polls?
I want to seize this opportunity to appreciate everybody that has made this day possible. I appreciate the leadership of our party, the PDP. I equally want to appreciate the average man in Ekiti that has seen me through my eight years out of governance. I left the Government House on October 16, 2006 and by God's grace, I will be back in Government House on October 16, 2014.
I owe it all to God and the common man in Ekiti.
It was an uphill task for me to say I want to come back eight years after without their support. I also want to thank the agencies, INEC and the Police that have played active roles in ensuring a free, fair and credible process that has produced me. To the people that contested with me in my party, I want to appreciate and will continue to appreciate them for being magnanimous and giving me the necessary support.
To Governor Kayode Fayemi, my brother Opeyemi Bamidele and other contestants that have conceded and accepted me as their governor, I want to thank them too. I want to assure them that I will work with all of them. The government belongs to all of us.
Four years is a very short time in the life of any administration, I want to let them know that it will be four years of all of us in government. There is no winner, no loser.
Governor Fayemi has called me to concede defeat and I will see him tomorrow (today) hopefully for us to let the public know that we are together irrespective of our past. Ekiti belongs to all of us because a governor has only got a term and tenure but Ekiti will remain forever.
I salute Fayemi's courage for accepting me and his readiness to allow peace and love reign in our state. I am assuring you that this is Ayo Fayose, who is older, wiser and ready to work with everybody.
Fayemi has conceded defeat, he remains my brother and will forever remain my brother. He has contributed his quota like every other governor that has served and he needs to be given the necessary respect that he deserves.
How were you able to dislodge your opponents to emerge winner of the elections?
It is the Lord's doing. I want to recall that my removal in 2006 remains a mystery to the common man on the streets but they never left me for a day, they believed in me. I want to equally let you know that I was left with the people without money, eight years in the wilderness.
My charge to every politician is to target the poor people. They will not come and ask you for contracts, all they want is to have their lives improved, to which they believe I have an answer.
I do things a governor is expected to do. For me, I am a grassroots man and because of the way I operate with them, they call me Senior Advocate of the Masses. So, I want to continue that trend, I want to identify with them continuously. I will not leave them. So, the strategy is, when you are voted into power, don't forget that four years is a short time.
No doubt the expectations from the people will be high this time around. How prepared are you for the task ahead?
My past speaks for me. Some people call me a workaholic but nobody gave me a chance in 2003. They said I am an HND holder and that Ekiti is a state of professors. You do not need to be a professor to know that someone is hungry. You do not need to be a doctor to know that somebody needs support. It is innate for you to show love and kindness towards people. You do not need to be a doctor to know that a road is bad.
I want to tell you that my performance this time will earn me the necessary leadership in Nigeria. If you do good to people, their loyalty will be with you forever. So, I want to do good so that I can remain the leader here, I want to be the Awolowo here.
Awolowo is long dead but nobody has the courage to insult him. I want to be a man like that, that will give my best and earn the respect of my people.
Fayemi has done his best.
In terms of performance, I will perform because I have pledged, I have promised and I will live up to my promise.
You and the sitting governor have agreed to work together. This is a new turn in our democracy. In what manner do you hope to work with Governor Fayemi?
Whether the election was won by me in every local government, Fayemi remains my governor until October 16, 2014. Fayemi has done his best but nothing is permanent.
The only thing constant is change. Governor Fayemi cannot say it anywhere that I insulted him in his entire tenure.
The office of a governor is an exalted office and such occupants must be respected in and out of office. For me, Fayemi will remain a respectable Nigerian, a respectable leader in Ekiti and I will do everything possible to give him the pride of place in government.
Though a governor today and a former governor tomorrow, Fayemi is our leader. We have to work and take over from where Fayemi stopped to make sure Ekiti people get the best out of the state.
It is not about Fayemi neither is it about Fayose. It is about the people. I want to say again that politics can destroy a country but love can keep a country together. As a leader, I will show love to all men.
What are your plans for Ekiti?
One of the things I want to do in Ekiti state is the flyovers. I want Ekiti to have a flyover at Fajuyi and Matthew junction where traffic will be controlled steadily. I am going to embark on operation 'Tar all untarred roads' in Ado Ekiti, the state capital within two years.
Any second term ambition?
The constitution does not allow me, you cannot take the oath of office three times. I have taken one and I will soon take the second one and will find my way to my house.
Friend or loyalist
Again, I have chosen a deputy governor who I told from the beginning that we will both leave Government House together. I don't want a deputy governor that will start playing politics behind when I am in government and cause distraction. I do not want that again. My deputy governor is practically here to work with me and look after certain things for me and ensure that we succeed.
Ekiti people will choose their next governor after me, themselves. Choosing or placing your friend or loyalist on the people, will put you and your nominee in trouble. I want Ekiti people to choose whoever they feel should be the governor after me and nobody will expect me to come and impose anyone. I will not choose for Ekiti, I will do my best and go my way.
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This is surprising!
ReplyDeleteCongrate,Mr Ayo GOD is in ur side,you are the man of people, i love comment. Well doing
ReplyDeleteWell spoken! Congratulations Ayo, the people's Governor.
ReplyDeleteIf you have good intention for ekitis, May HIS strenghth strengthen you to achieved this and I wish you GOOD and TROUBLESS terms this time.
ReplyDeleteWell said the gov elect. Politics is not a do or die affair. Gov fayemi is a great leader and has a spirit of sportmanship. He has accepted defeat and congratulate d gov elect. I hope other politicians will learn from the duo of fayemi n fayose that have interest of their people to move the state forward other than personal interest. This is a watershed in our democracy, where gov elect has promised to continue the good work of Gov.Fayemi has started.
ReplyDeleteAyo naani oooooooooh
ReplyDeleteThis does not sync with the Fayose that I knew, I hope he means every bit of this release. May God see our state to greater development under Fayose's administration.
ReplyDeleteThis quite examplary and full of humility. Little wonder he is said to be the people's mandate. Congrats Fayose
ReplyDeleteCongratulation sir. you are indeed the man of the people.
ReplyDeleteThis is encouraging and what we want for our dear country. Focus should be on the people. I pray that God will give him the enablement and heart to live up to his words.
ReplyDeleteThis is strange, coming from a Nigerian Politician... Was this interview scripted? or is this guy for real? Ekiti people please tell us oooo!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! In Nigeria? Thanks to Almighty Jehovah. Detractors & kingmakers can find job elsewhere. Thanks to loosers for conceeding defeat. Igbo man take note.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous, you should be careful in choosing your words my brother/sister... fyi; the eastern part of 9ja remains the most peaceful in 9ja... anonymous take note...
DeleteStop been childish, what really is igbo man concern on this issue? I wonder why some imbecile always tribalized every raised issues?
DeleteA more matured and sober man.I hope it will translate to good governance.
ReplyDeleteFly over and tarred roads. What about schools, health care, unemployment etc?
ReplyDeleteAPC going DOWN...........
ReplyDeleteWhao!whao!whao! This blew my mind and this means there might be hope for Nigeria. I wish others will emulate this. To Ekiti pepple, if Fayose meant all what he said(God help him) then Ekiti pple is gonna have a good ride, I congratulate you all soon Ekiti will be envy of other states while Ado will be a state capital to behold. Congrats again.
ReplyDeleteMark.
I can possibly inferred that not all members of APC are what the people thought they are with the magnanimity of Governor Kayode Fayemi. Ekiti State has blase the trail by this one act. An incumbent Governor accepted defeat and congratulated the Governor Elect. Whao!!! I am sure other politician must have learnt a lesson from it. To Ekiti people, you are so lucky to have these new generation politicians in your state and I congratulate you all. Long Live Ekiti State, Long Live other states in Nigeria and Long Live Nigeria as an indivisible entity.
ReplyDeleteNice speech(shld b backd frm d hrt tho)..bt most of all I salute d 2 politicians and d people of ekiti state,hope oda states will learn!
ReplyDeleteThis is new in Nigeria politics, big congratulations.Well done guys and we want to see the devident of politics not politics of bitterness. lets join hands together to build our state country strong.
ReplyDeletewell said mr gov. elect. May God give u the grace to do ur promises till the end....
ReplyDeleteCongrat my main man, 'omu mi lati inu ira wa, ofese mi sori apata, oforin didun simi lenu, orin AYO halleluyah!' Congratulations ones again jagaban of Ekiti.
ReplyDeletewell said Mr fayose a man of the people. but remember show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. i.e surround yourself with people who will allow u accomplish your mission. you remain our choice.
ReplyDeleteEkun Oko Fayemi.
ReplyDeleteIt is hoped that the new improved Fayose is for real. Fayemi is a shining example of strong belief in the people's right to decide who and how thye want to be governed. Whether for good or for bad, let the people make their choice. One other lesson is that no matter how good your intentions and programs for the people are, if you are not able to convince them about it, you may be moving too fast for them and when you look back you will discover you are far from them and they are no longer with you. Also politicians should not take electoral loss as personal defeat but an indication of the people's choice .Even if a politician believes he or she has good intentions but the people see it differently, he or she should take it in good faith. It should not be a do or die affair. To MOB, though it might not have made much difference, but you have seen the result of impatience. The election confirms some of your feelings about the people's perception of Fayemi's government but your approach has resulted in 'kaka keku ma je sese, a fi se awadanu'. You now have difficult options. Remain in labour (I doubt you would), you are going into political oblivion. Move to PDP, the election has confirmed you are of no electoral value to them.Going back to APC is not an option. But given that a lot of politicians have no shame, it is not impossible.
ReplyDeleteGood development. Let other parties also be ready to take it in good faith when the pendulum of electoral loss swings their way.Fayemi has demonstrated a good spirit of sportmanship. The critical thing is that election should be free and fair. In that case, whatever the outcome is should be taken in good faith by all concerned. It is clear to Fayemi that no matter what PDP may have benefited from electoral malpractice, if there was, it would not have been that significant to make a diffrence to the final objective which was to determine who the people wanted as governor. Election result is not about choosing the best of candidates but the candidate wanted by the people.This is the lesson.
ReplyDeleteToday, I want to thank the Almighty God for vindicating us that have spoken the truth about Fayose as a person and who was going to win the election. Degrees on various majors do not win elections or win the hearts and conscience of common people. People vote for a candidate they feel will or can better their lots. The candidate to win any election, and in any free and fair election in deed, must be a grassroots man. The person must enjoy this support. That's exactly what happened here. May God Almighty continue to watchover both in-coming and out-going governors. May He gives Fayose the wisdom and knowledge to govern the state well again.
ReplyDeleteYOU HAVE SPOKEN WELL FAYOSE.READING THIS PIECE CHANGED MY PERCEPTION TOWARDS YOU.I HOPE YOU WILL ABIDE BY THESE WORDS.
ReplyDeleteMAY HELP YOU AS U COMMENCE ANOTHER TENURE IN EKITI.GOD BLESS EKITI STATE.
Wishing you all the best our new elected governor. I hope my state ( Oyo ) will learn from both of you.
ReplyDelete