The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) has sealed the endorsement of Governor Kayode Fayemi as its candidate for the June 21election in the Fountain of Knowledge at its primaries in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Correspondent SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN reports.
The delegates to the primaries came from 132 towns and villages across the far-flung state. They converged on the Trade Fair Complex, Ado Ekiti, the state capital with one accord. They had a mission. At exactly 11 am, the voting started. In the afternon, the result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries was ready.
Exuding happiness at the orderly conduct of the delegates, the Chairman of the six-member APC Primaries Panel, Senator Osita Izunaso, declared Governor Kayode Fayemi the winner and governorship candidate. On that note, his battle for re-election gathered momentum.
Fayemi had no rival at the shadow poll. Thus, as the lone aspirant, the primaries paled into the ratification of his endorsement as the flag bearer by the party. The governor was conscious of the significance of the endorsement and its implication for the party. Thanking the delegates, Fayemi promised never to let them down. He said that the contest is not a personal battle, but the continuation of his rescue mission in Ekitiland.
Few weeks ago, the war scholar and pro-democracy activist had collected his nomination form, in compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines. However, before the governor signified his intention to seek a fresh mandate, many groups and associations have endorsed him for a second term. Also, party chieftains across the three senatorial districts, APC governors and other national leaders have endorsed him in Ado-Ekiti.
For Fayemi, the intra-party contest was a walk over. Declaring him the winner, Izunaso, who is the APC Interim Organising Secretary, said that the governor polled 192, 767 votes. Other panel members-Alhaji Abubakar Suleja, Isah Maduto, Capt. Bala Jubril (rtd), Alhaji Yemi Sanusi, and Steve Asimoke-applauded the governor’s performance in the last three and half years, stressing that the bloc vote underscored his popularity.
Fayemi was accompanied by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi. Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, Ekiti APC Interim Chairman Chief Jide Awe and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu. witnessed the primaries.
Fayemi expressed gratitude to the party for its unflinching support, love and solidarity. He noted that there was no case of unruly behaviour among delegates. He hailed the validity of internal democracy, saying that the APC has become a model for consolidating democracy. Fayemi said that the process was as important as the real election, adding that it signified the APC’s commitment to transparency.
The historic exercise trailed the governor’s endorsement for a second term in December 2012 by stakeholders at Iyin-Ekiti. The endorsement was tagged: “Iyin Accord.”
The “Iyin Accord,” according to party chieftains, was a watershed. The accord, in their view, was designed by party leaders to give the signal that Fayemi’s mandate would be renewed by the progressive family in Ekiti.
The meeting where the ‘Accord’ was reached was actually held at the instance of the former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, who is the Southwest APC leader. At the meeting were party elders, top government officials, women and youth leaders from 16 councils. They said that Fayemi deserved a second term because he has performed as governor.
At the meeting, party leaders also reflected on the future of the state. After reviewing the activities of Fayemi Administration, they resolved to vote for continuity in 2014. Speakers included Adebayo, Senator Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South), Dr. Omirin, Hon. Ife Arowosoge, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi, and Chief Ronke Okusanya. According to them, the developmental efforts of the administration must continue beyond this year.
Adebayo hailed the stakeholders for endorsing Fayemi for another term, noting that the governor has impacted positively on the lives of the people. “I think he deserves a second term, just as our people are clamouring,” Adebayo said.
Awe, who was the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman, also aligned with the position of the party elders. He said that Fayemi has become the toast of the party because he has lived up to expectation. He said that the ‘Iyin Accord’ was not “by accident, but a deliberate attempt to show appreciation for what the governor has done in the transformation of the state.”Awe said the feats included infrastructural development, financial empowerment, job creation and social security scheme for elderly citizens.
Also, in July last year, the ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, visited the Ekiti progressive family at Ado-Ekiti. At the meeting, Tinubu put another seal on the gale of endorsements. It was witnessed by former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Dele Alake, the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator James Kolawole. Also present were Deputy Governor Adelabu, Adebayo, Omirin and Adaramodu, Senators Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Adeniyi (Ekiti South) and Olubunmi Adetumbi (Ekiti North), and Arowosoge. Commissioners, special advisers and assistants, local government chairmen and party officials were also there.
Tinubu, who spoke for about one and a half hours, said the visit was to settle the misunderstanding within the party, ahead of the poll. He said: “We have not come to impose somebody on you. We have come just to settle a quarrel. Americans would normally say, if the bicycle is not faulty, you don’t take it to the repairer. Fayemi has passed; will you promote him or not?” The question drew a deafening ‘yes’ from the audience.
Tinubu said that Ekiti was witnessing a “kukulaja”, which translates to “the fiery creature at the rooftop”. It was a vague reference to the personality clashes between Fayemi and the House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who also had the intention of running for ther governorship. The National Leader added: “When we got there (the political headship of the state), why would we not know how to manage our success? If anyone here knows Opeyemi, tell him that Jagaban has sent you to him to drop his ambition. Invite him and appeal to him. We will return later to do official endorsement”.
Tinubu urged Fayemi and the party leadership to work for reconciliation. He said: “There is no shame in politics; everyone’s turn would come sooner than later.”
Akande also called for a truce. He observed that the party would confront three challenges: how to merge with other parties without experiencing cultural hiccups, how to position the party for the elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states and how to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from national leadership.
He stressed: “We are going to merge with another party, but is our culture going to change? Three elections are on the way, but how do we prepare for them? The last task is how do we remove the PDP from Abuja? Our mission today is to set in motion processes to settle our in-house misunderstanding. If any exists, we must settle it to move ahead.”
However, the endorsement of Fayemi by the party leadership did not go down well with some members. Bamidele objected to the endorsement, saying that it was not a collective decision.
He said: “The endorsement of the governor by a section of our party is a step that is allowed in politics. But I want to say that other party members who are interested in the position can still show interest. ACN is not a lawless party. It is a party that believes in the rule of law and democratic tenets, so I am confident that the rules will be followed strictly under this circumstance”.
But, sources disclosed that Bamidele never disclosed his plans to contest the governorship to the party leadership.
Before the last weekend primaries, Fayemi has kicked off his campaign in Ado-Ekiti. The campaign train has not stopped since then. It has rolled into some local governments with a mammoth crowd coming to affirm his endorsement as the flag bearer.
