NIGERIA POLITICS: BETWEEN FAYEMI AND FAYOSE

The build up to the race for whom to occupy the Ekiti State Government House, come June 21, 2014, is drawing very near, and the battle between the titans is already on top gear.

The state has been greeted with incessant cases of violence between supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The incumbent governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, assumed office on Saturday October 16, 2010, and has been given the party’s ticket to run for a second term in office. Governor Kayode Fayemi succeeded Engr. Segun Oni, after fighting a legal battle for 42 months to reclaim his mandate in a court injunction on October 15, 2010, at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Kwara state.

On assumption of office, Governor Kayode Fayemi outlined an 8-point agenda as the road map to the development of Ekiti state:

·         Education and human capital development

·         Good governance

·          Health care services

·         Infrastructural development

·         Modernized agriculture

·         Tourism development

·         Industrial development

·         Gender equality and women empowerment

According to his admirers, Governor Kayode Fayemi has touched the lives of the Ekiti people in so many ways. Presently, all the 183 schools in the state have been renovated, 2,820 youths have benefitted from the Youth Commercial Agriculture; teachers and students have laptop computers distributed to them.

There has been construction of roads spanning hundreds of kilometers within the state. The Ikogosi Warm spring has been made a sought-out-for to tourists. The elderly in the state receive a monthly stipend of #5000.00 each; little wonder he is referred to as oko awon arugbo (meaning old women’s husband)

No doubt, Kayode Fayemi has laudable achievements credited to him; hence, his return to the government house will be accepted by all and sundry.

His critics say the education policy of merging the three universities of the state into one was wrong of the government of the day. This they say would inhibit students from gaining admission into any of the institutions of higher learning in the state, thus, resulting in thuggery and other forms of social vices to those who do not gain admission. This would also affect the allocation of funds by the Federal government on education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)

Former governor Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, who is also the flag bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the June 21 election, is poised to gaining the people’s mandate.

Fayose assumed office on May 29, 2003, succeeding Niyi Adebayo. In his own little way while in office, Fayose touched the lives of the poor in many ways through the mobile clinics, distribution of potable water in tankers which reduced typhoid occurrence in the state. His admirers in no doubt say he understands the plight of the common people.

Fayose also has laudable achievements credited to him while in office which include construction of classrooms and administrative blocks for the state’s school of health technology, Ijero; lecture theatres for the then College of Education, Ikere Ekiti; construction of roads in the state capital as well as the purchase of agricultural equipment to boost agricultural production.

No doubt, these two personalities have touched the lives of the Ekiti indigenes in so many ways. Following the impeachment process by the state House of Assembly, Fayose and his deputy Abiodun Olujimi were ousted from office on September 26, 2006 due to gross misconduct. With this, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared emergency rule in the state, thus, Fayose, his deputy and the State House of Assembly were suspended.

Brigadier General (rtd) Adetunji Olurin was made the administrator of the state between October 19, 2006 and April 27, 2007.

Although, the PDP won the state from the then AD, but the founding fathers of the AD (CAN turned APC) were able to cling to power again.

As the battle between the titans draws near, the godfathers have prepared their candidates at the shrine, with a view to defeating the opponent at the polls.

Who will the gods anoint?

TAGS: APC, PDP, Ekiti State, Fayemi, Fayose