FORMER GIVERNOR & NOW MINISTER FOR SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT DR KAYODE FAYEMI SET TO DECLARE FOR GOVERNORSHIP OF EKITI STATE

Atawewe

In about 24 hours to now, Saturday, April 14, 2018 to be more precise, the former Governor of EKITI State, who is in fact the current Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. John Olukayode Fayemi one of those 3 very influential points men via which the President had wanted to impress Nigerians, the others being former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola- (the Minister for Works, Power & Housing) & Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi-(Minister for Transportation), would be declaring his intention to run for Governor of EKITI State, to do what would be considered his 2nd term in office.

Dr. FAYEMI had done veritably well as Governor about 4 years ago during his administration which ran from 2010 to 2014, before he was soundly and roundly defeated at the election for his 2nd term, in fact he was beaten at every of the Local Government Areas by hurricane Fayose in the person of the now incumbent Peter Ayodele Fayose, who had preceded Fayemi, though not immediate. Many couldn't believe what happened then, though much ca me up about tyat election late,  but it was too late and nothing was actually prover for a fact. It was like a nightmare dream organised by Fayose when it happened, but one of what he used then was his closeness to the grassroots which worked overwhelmingly for him, a closeness that Fayemi didn't enjoy in his first missionary journey.

Now after Fayose of PDP has done his 2 terms, though not together immediately and is already on the way out, and is even hoping to install his deputy at all cost, the opposition are in a frenzy to replace him too at all cost.

One of those who wants to rule Ekiti again is the highly cerebral Dr. Olukayode FAYEMI of the APC, the man with the intimidating and staggering resume, that if by virtue of academic prowess alone, he should just sit back and rest and coast home to a landslide victory, but it's not just about that only at all, one only hope he has learnt his lessons. Imagine that the man with a Doctorate degree in War Studies from the renowned and prestigious King's College University of London, England specialising in Civil-Military relations is emminently qualified to take the stable again.

EKITI state should expect a battle royale of the most awesome kind, especially with the caliber of the array of those who have declared their intentions. One of the closest persons to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the person of Senator Babafemi Ojudu an APC member in the senate, has already declared & launched his intention a few weeks back and his support is increasing more and more by the day. Another strongman of APC who we hear is also eagerly nursing the same ambition is another former Governor and top member of the elders council of the ruling party APC, in the person of Chief Segun Oni, in fact Dr. Fayemi replaced Chief Oni as the executive Governor of EKITI after the Court in Ilorin threw him out as not being the legitimate winner of the then election.

How the APC hopes to be able to manage these many egos, is still baffling for us, as none of these men are willing to back down for each other. The same scenario that created the schism and division that shot them on the foot the last time and allowed Fayose to cost home to victory, is again rearing up its head. That year Opeyemi Bamidele and Kayode Fayemi fought themselves to a standstill, thereby polarizing their own support base and dividing it totally. It is a well known fact that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Not only the above though, it is also a very well known fact that Ojudu is from the camp of Tinubu, a somewhat anointed son in whom the godfather is well pleased. But Fayemi is known to be a man of and on his own, a member of the new school (Fayemi and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and a few others are of that school), who of recent have been willing to call the bluff of the godfather and are even hell bent on demystifying the godfather. Something of the sort of what Aketi and Fayemi perfected in Ondo, that won Rotimi Akeredolu that election. So can they perform this miracle twice? Can Fayemi afford an open battle with the Asiwaju & Jagaban? Let's just wait and see, fingers crossed?

So would Fayemi's intention come to fruition, especially with the APC? Let's wait and see also. What we know for a fact now though is that, it seems like the former Governor and now Minister seems to have the resources, the financial muscle and the intellectual sagacity and capacity to take anyone on, no matter who. Cerebral-wise, he is up there among the elite, wherewithal wise as in resources, he is also up there, but political maneuvering wise, is he too? That we believe has always been the forte of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. An art he has perfected to stratopheric levels.

Come this Saturday, April 14, 2018 in EKITI State at the APC Party secretariat Ajilosun, Ado EKITI, Dr Kayode Fayemi would begin his 2nd missionary journey in his quest to return as the Governor of the fountain of knowledge, also known as the Land of Honour and Integrity. To help him dazzle his teeming supporters who are sure to come out enmasse on Saturday, which actually is the day the electioneering umpire INEC would flag off electioneering officiallying in the state as it concerns the upcoming gubernatorial election, exactly 3 months before voting proper on July 24, 2018 would occur, we hear would be one of the best exponents of the Fuji music genre, he is referred to as the king of Fuji dance hall, gentleman, Amb. Suleiman Adio Atawewe (Akile 1).

Reason for Atawewe's choice as the one to lead other entertainers for Dr Fayemi's declaration is premised on his calm and non-violent mien, which connects very well with the Minister's type of classy and gentleman's personality. Dr Fayemi is a known advocate of peace and a gentleman to the core. 

IS THE EKITI APC PARTY SET FOR ANOTHER IMPLOSION AGAIN?

Segun Oni

Opeyemi Michael Bamidele

Congressman Bimbo Daramola

Once beaten twice shy is the common adage, so that saying presupposes that the next time, if that time ever comes that person would have learnt a lesson and would be better prepared or would have readjusted, especially via the knowledge one has acquired via experience.

As it seems right now, it's like the APC which is the opposition party in Ekiti State, where PDP's own enfant terrible, in the person of his excellency, the executive Governor of Ekiti, Mr. Ayodele Peter Fayose reigns supreme has not learnt their lessons at all.

Just like it happened a few years ago, where internal wranglings, inordinate ambition, greed, unnecessary desperation led to a foolish implosion, which broke the ranks and divided the party, much to the extent that everyone went to their different camps and dug deep, such a scenario is already gradually building up again. What happened then virtually allowed a grassroot mobiliser extraordinaire like Ayo Fayose to slamdunk the APC, blowing the party into smithereens along the way and coasting to an unprecedented and unmatchable victory, with them not even being able to win one local government, even though the party was the one on the seat.

More after the break.

SEGUN ONI EMBRACES APC DUMPS PDP

ENGINEER SEGUN ONI

 

GOVERNOR KAYODE FAYEMI

Would this very timely change of allegiance be a major advantage at this point in time? We would soon know. Before now, it was like the incumbent action Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi & ousted former Governor Segun Oni, who was then with the PDP were sworn enemies. Reason being that, it was Kayode Fayemi's party that threw a spanner in the wheel of the then Governor Oni's wheel of progress. 

After Segun Oni was declared Governor in Ekiti State then, the AC went all the way to remove him as Governor. They succeeded through the Courts after all of 3 years, so the PDP and Segun Oni who couldn't believe what had happened to them then were bitter. Though they tried through the Courts to reverse the judgement, they were unsuccessful all through. 

Now that the incumbent, who has worked remarkably well is seeking for a 2nd term to consolidate on his 1st term, alignments and re-alignments to position very well for a monumental fight (election) come the next few weeks (June 21, 2014) have meant that former enemies are throwing down their weapons, sheathing their swords to embrace peace, in order to fight a common enemy. 

Apparently not liking how his former party (the PDP), which is hell bent on wrestling power away from Fayemi and his party picked their aspirant & even the choice of aspirant (Ayo Fayose), the former Governor Oni has since jumped ship and now is a member of the APC (All Progressives Congress) . 

So would this be bringing the much needed support that would help annihilate the opposition made up of the very formidable Ayo Fayose on one side and the indefatigable Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele on the other side, time will surely tell, if this allegiance is a masterstroke.

KAYODE FAYEMI SLAMS SEGUN ONI AGAIN

 

GOVERNOR KAYODE FAYEMI

SEGUN ONI

So finally the matter would be laid to rest now. The highest court in the country, The Supreme Court of Nigeria, has finally reiterated the victory of the sitting Governor, His Excellency Governor Kayode Fayemi of ACN. And by extension has declared no hanky-panky was involved. 

This Supreme Court case had been the fallout of the dispute over the conduct of the 2007 Governorship election in Ekiti State. Remember Segun Oni's PDP election victory had been nullified by the Court of Appeal in 2009 under the leadership of Justice Salami. Oni had gone to court to protest that there might have been a case of bias, because of alleged cordiality between the head of the Court of Appeal and the leadership of Fayemi's party- The ACN. His appeal was centered on the fact that Justice Ayo Salami should have excused himself from the case, because of his alleged friendship with the Jagaban, which could have been a reason for bias in his ruling then.

The Court of Appeal in 2012 had dismissed Oni's case, saying he should have raised his objections long before judgement was delivered. Now the Supreme Court this morning , Friday, May 31, 2013 has also ruled against Segun Oni and thereby giving Kayode Fayemi the victory. 

So now that the case has finally been rested, Governor Fayemi can now breathe a sigh of relief and hit the ground running to deliver to his people, the much needed dividend of democracy, no more case hanging over his head.