While we have made some progress towards democratization, the risk of radical reversal is considerable. As a people, we should resolve never to return to this dreadful malpractice. It is possible for us to engage in competitive, partisan politics and even have intense political disagreements yet refrain from being violent and destructive. We can be faithful to our political causes yet accord even our opponents due dignity and respect as human beings.

If your true purpose is to provide able governance to all the people of the state, then affording respect and dignity to your opponents is no great obstacle. After all, we are sons and daughters of the same state. It is only when your objective is other than decency in governance that treating one’s political opponents with respect becomes burdensome. It is only when despotism and suppression are your goals that you rain injustice on your opponents. But that is just the opening salvo in an attack on the body politic. After attending to his opponents, such a leader will cast his terrible hand next against the people.

We have spent four years working hard to bring the light of hope and civil purpose to our people. They are now better than they were when we came into office because Ekiti kete deserve no less than to be treated with honour and dignity.

Legacy of Honour and Service

Our culture esteems respect, courtesy, and good breeding and these are traits we must preserve. As a people, we have sacred lines of behavior and public decorum that must never be crossed. There are bounds of propriety that we should never transgress, no matter how intense the political disputes. The sanctity of human life must be held inviolate. No pursuit of political office is worth a human life. Indeed, any political agenda that mortgages our humanity, whether for financial or material benefit, must be rejected. Any agenda which turns our children into warring combatants over the crumbs of their rightful civic inheritance has to be resisted. We have to ensure that we do not foist a legacy of perpetual strife upon our children. Ekiti, the land of honour must not become a wasteland.

Dear people of Ekiti, it has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life to have served at your pleasure these past few years. The road ahead of us is long. The climb is still steep. We still have far to go on our journey to democratic prosperity. The good thing is that it is a journey, not a destination. There is an ever present danger that threatens to overwhelm us. It is dark and foul because it abhors our progress and good condition. We have lit a lamp of progress in our land. This light may flicker for a season; I am convinced its flame will never be extinguished for it is the flame of human decency, justice and compassion. This light exists in the hearts and minds of legions of citizens who share a vision of a land awake with peace and prosperity. Let us therefore keep the faith with the noble direction on which we have embarked, knowing that we shall prevail because our path is right and just.

In the spirit of transition and in the light of the relative peace that has endured in the capital, I hereby announce the lifting of the curfew hitherto imposed on the capital based on the advice of the security agencies. I urge all citizens/residents to conduct themselves peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.

I thank all my family members, party members and leaders, political colleagues, friends and associates who have stood by and with me during the course of my administration. I thank the good people of Ekiti. This mission will continue and this light will endure.

May God bless Ekiti State. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.