FAYOSE, EKITI AND POLITICS OF SOUTHWEST

Peter Ayodele Fayose, the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, is an enigma in Nigerian politics. Nobody seems to understand his style and strategies. Until the declaration of the results of the governorship election of June 21st, 2014, which proclaimed him as winner, by a large margin, it was confusing whether, indeed, this ebullient politician was truly a man of the people or merely a self-conceited rabble-rouser. Compared to the quiet, soft-spoken and shy-looking incumbent Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Fayose appears loud and too much of an extrovert. He exhumes so much confidence that when he speaks, he is easily taken for an arrogant person.

Yet, underneath Fayose's outward appearance is a caring, humane and generous personality, attributes once tasted by the people of Ekiti State, but only for a few years, after his victory over sitting Governor Niyi Adebayo, at the election of 19th April, 2003. Between 2003 and 2006 when Fayose was politically manipulated out of office, the people found in him a unique brand of compassion and commitment to service, never experienced in the State. Like old lovers, Fayose and the people of Ekiti State have been searching for one another. And now, they have been re-united.

Governor-Elect Fayose's second coming is also the return of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Ekiti State. The major infrastructure and social development, by which Fayose endeared himself to the people of Ekiti, was achieved on the platform of the PDP, deploying the party's political expertise, and in keeping with its manifesto. Therefore, a substantial part of the credit of Fayose's achievements in Ekiti State went to the party under which he served. Which explains why the PDP has been firmly entrenched in Ekiti State for a long time, in spite of the incursion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into States of the South-West Zone?

Apart from Fayose's past record of excellent performance in Ekiti State, his victory was made easy by the woeful, if not total lack of performance of the APC Government of Fayemi. Like other APC States in the South-West, the Fayemi administration operates more as a propaganda machinery, rather than one devoted to practical efforts and concrete projects. The reason for the poor performance of the Fayemi administration in Ekiti State is that it lacks the necessary framework and policies for service delivery to the people. Not only is the APC without men and women of vision and commitment, the party lacks unity and focus, thereby making it easy for the PDP and a formidable politician like Fayose to reclaim the State. It should be noted that the bulk of members who joined the APC were frustrated members of the PDP who could not have their selfish interests in the party.

In preparing for the Ekiti governorship election, the superior experience and political skills of the PDP were amply demonstrated, especially in the selection of the party's flag bearer. Out of over 26 aspirants who contested the PDP primaries for the position, most of whom were eminently qualified, the party, under the supervision of former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, was able to choose Fayose as its candidate. Naturally, some of the participants protested but, again, the party was able to calm frayed nerves and reconcile its members for a unified contest against the APC candidate. It was a clear demonstration of the advantage of experience which the PDP has over all other political parties in the country.

The Ekiti governorship election has been universally declared as transparent, free and fair. Even the opposition parties, including the APC and Labour parties, have accepted this position. The defeated incumbent Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has conceded defeat and congratulated Fayose. There is not a single protest or threat of court action against the conduct or results of the election. The credit goes to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whose electoral reforms are already yielding fruits. Compared to what elections in Nigeria used to be in the past, the Ekiti case has shown that we are, indeed, close to the Promised Land, as far as elections are concerned. The President's proclamation of 'one man, one vote – one woman, one vote and one youth, one vote', is now almost a reality.

Over the years, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been the proverbial whipping boy in all matters relating to election failures. All that is now changing! In the Ekiti election, accusations of late arrival of voting materials were virtually non-existent, nor were there charges of bias or collusion against INEC officials. Indeed, Ekiti is the best in INEC's performance in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Professor Attahiru Jega and his officials must be commended for their roles in the success of the election in Ekiti State.

Of course, the conduct of the Ekiti election was successful because there was adequate security. The nation's security agencies, the military, police and civil defence organizations, were adequately deployed to protect life and property during the election. Indeed, the security arrangements were so impressive that the United States Mission in Nigeria had to issue a statement, commending INEC, the nation's security agencies and other electoral stakeholders for their preparations and logistics. Prominent politicians, including state Governors and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, also commended the Federal Government, INEC and the Security Forces for the peaceful conduct of the elections in Ekiti State.

While all those responsible for the success of the Ekiti election deserve commendation, the incumbent Governor of the State, Dr. Fayemi, must be applauded for his unusual courage in accepting defeat and pledging to work with the winner in the interest of the people of Ekiti State. Governor-Elect, Peter Ayodele Fayose has proved himself to be a popular and truly grassroots politicians, highly loved in Ekiti land and as one of the most charismatic leaders in Nigeria. No other person could have generated the kind of excitement and mobilization experienced in Ekiti State during the election.

The Ekiti election results, with the PDP winning in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State, are a pointer to what will happen in subsequent elections in Nigeria. The results also show a new trend in the politics of the South-West geo-political zone. It will be recalled that most of the States in the zone were under the control of the PDP. That was before the politicised judgements of the Electoral Tribunals, allegedly manipulated by a retired Court of Appeal Justice. With the Ekiti election, PDP's process of reclaiming its rightful States has truly started. I dare say the next stop will be the State of Osun!

Written By Matthew Adejoh