When some months ago, Former Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State made a pronouncement that he was ready to stage a comeback to govern the state, many thought the confirmed grassroots mobiliser was joking. Many Ekiti and non-Ekiti indigenes, political stakeholders, analysts and concerned Nigerians, who took the idea with a pint of salt said never! Some shouted abomination, all because he had vacated the seat years ago.
An interesting twist to Fayose’s ambition came to the fore when his
wife Feyisetan, a gifted, spirit-filled being declared that, in her dream, she saw her beloved husband, back on the seat of governance in the state. After months of this revelation, many (including this writer) began to take Fayose’s ambition very seriously. Why? It was this same woman, who many said dreamt that her husband would be ousted from office by some powerful forces in 2006, and it happened.
Against all opposition, pessimism from some quarters and unfounded outcry against the return of this master political strategist and acclaimed grassroots mobiliser, he came out triumphant in the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries conducted by the Dr Peter Odili-led Committee at the Eagles Event Centre, Ado Ekiti on March 15, 2014.
Behold, Fayose’s victory was not an easy journey, as many of the big wigs that contested the primaries cried out loud that they would not join hands with him as the PDP standard bearer for the election proper. You would say the tidal waves within the party would definitely become the albatross on the road to June 21, 2014. Nay, as fate would have it, the unfolding event in recent weeks is a pointer that he is bound to conquer all tidal waves on his way.
What are the tidal waves being conquered by Fayose? It is not the Lilliputian challenge from the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, or from the Labour Party’s candidate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) presently a member of House of Representatives or from Kole Ajayi, the standard bearer of the Accord Party. The conquest has been the unflinching and unconditional support being declared by Fayose’s co-contestants, who are the real brides to be courted before, during and after the expected June 21 historic contest.
A top contender before and during the March 15 PDP primaries, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, an Emure Ekiti-born prince and former national publicity secretary of Afenifere declared: “As a loyal party man, we must abide by the decision of our party leaders and work for the success of the party.”
This uncommon pledge from the Prince of Hope is a pointer that Fayose is set for a roller coasting victory, come June 21.
Not done with what God has done to Fayose’s campaign moves, the Ikere-Ekiti born astute banker and a former deputy to Fayose, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, during his former boss’ visit to his Ikere country home, said: “Myself and Fayose belong to the same political family; we started this race together with love and understanding that we belong together. This is imperative in the sense that since Fayose has clinched the ticket, it is reasonable for all the aspirants and their supporters to rally support for the success of the party’s candidate in the June 21 election. Fayose was my former boss and we never had a single misunderstanding during my short stint as deputy governor of Ekiti State.”
Let us hear from the ever-civilised and well-mannered Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd), the immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, who also contested the March 15 party primaries with Fayose. “I decided to forget the past and work for the party’s candidate as a mark of respect for President Goodluck Jonathan and for the overall interest of the party. Fayose is a good material for the election; he is an acknowledged grassroots politician with the ability to deliver the state to the party. I am therefore ready to deplore all resources to ensure that come June 21, our party takes over the reign in the state, he said. What a passionate and nerve-soothing statement of unalloyed support from a former top military brass with a civilian heart!
If what we have heard from Prince Adeyeye, Mr. Omoyeni, Navy Captain Olubolade called for applause and heart-warming commendation, then read what Fayose’s first deputy governor on assumption of office in 2003, Mr Abiodun Aluko had to say: “What I did was to show that I am a loyal party man. I am too politically conscious to know that it is better to be in the PDP, a party that controls the centre and that can be of advantage to the state and my supporters than to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC]. I have no choice than to work for the success of the PDP in the election. I have to work with former Governor Fayose to win the election.”
Beyond rhetoric, if one would conclude that Fayose has been blessed with an overwhelming support from his co-contestants, what about the support of a political gladiator from the Ekiti-North Senatorial district, Senator Ayo Arise, who said that Fayose was the new bride that was winning converts and followers in the state.
Expectedly, as Fayose tours the nooks and crannies of the state with his campaign team; visiting the homes of his co-contestants in the primaries, reeling out his campaign promises with the expectation that it would afterwards, turn into votes for him at the polls, the only tidal wave waiting for him is the quest to garner and conquer the votes of the young, old, the elite, as well as the peasant voters in the state come June 21, 2014.
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