Gov. Fayose (left) raised the hand of the Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola who he had endorsed for the next Ekiti gubernatorial contest

By Olajide Taylor

Not too long ago, a few members of the PDP in Ekiti led by Prince Adedayo Adeyeye held a press conference, calling on Governor Ayodele Fayose to in their words, “disqualify himself” from the process leading to the emergence of his successor as they claimed,  for  having pitched and openly endorsed his deputy governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

Among several puerile claims, they equally inferred that the imitable Fayose, only came to reap in the PDP, from their several years of toiling and hard work as though the governor was plucked from dreamland and foisted on them. Honestly, the ways of the average politician in this part of the world is past finding out. This infantile and nauseating  claim can easily fall flat in the face of a reality check. How the claimant(s) kept a straight face, beats my imagination.

Such claims, however, if left unchecked with irrefutable facts will certainly find respectability in the minds of some undiscerning people since the arrow head of this toxic claim is a party stalwart in his own right, whose visibility like that of some of his co-travelers is traceable to the magnanimity and good grace of Fayose. It is indeed traumatic that these fellows can act in this dishonourable manner all in the name of politics and here I specifically have Senator Abiodun Olujimi and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye in mind.

I wonder why hitherto respected members of the party would take to brazen revisionism because they cannot reconcile themselves to the obvious fact that their legitimate aspiration is running out of steam before take-off. I wouldn’t have bordered to take to this public medium but for the fact that the record must be set straight before the public. We live in a part of the world where mischief is a cardinal principle amongst those who ought to act honourable, but appear seemingly becoming an acceptable tradition. There is no scintilla of doubt as to the fact that Fayose is the dominant factor in Ekiti politics today- it is either you are with him or against him-you cannot simply ignore him.

At no time has Foyose, called Prince Adeyeye, Senator Olujimi and others to halt their race-never. He only openly endorsed (HE) Prof. Kolapo Olusola and the process leading to that choice is in the open. It was after a painstaking consultation with party faithful and stalwarts. At no time did the governor foist his deputy on the party, rather the reverse could be said to be the case. I will come to that later!

Till date, no indigene of the southern senatorial district has governed the state since creation. The first executive governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (1999-2003), Ayodele Fayose (2003-2007, 2014-2018), are both from central senatorial district, Segun Oni (2007-2010) and Kayode Fayemi (2010-2014) are both from the northern senatorial district. It is this seemingly discrimination that ought to be correct for fairness and balance sake.

In the said press conference, the conveners created several false impressions such as though the governor has the powers to close up the political space to other aspirants-that’s not possible and the governor has not acted as such. Another impression is the erroneous belief that; there is a seeming crisis of confidence following the choice of Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

All of these claims been bandied about from the crooked imaginations of the peddlers; as nothing can be further from such. The truth of the matter is that Fayose being a democrat who rose to power or rather was returned to power by the people, did so on the wave of vast support in Ekiti in a broad coalition that defied party affiliation and religious creed, cannot in all good conscience trump the popular will of the people.

The unprecedented political tsunami that characterized the return of Governor Fayose to the state house is still the talk of town and several academic interrogations after close to four years. He as a democrat would not rubbish the right of choice of the people which is a cardinal aspect of its tradition.

Kolapo Olusola became the toast of the people and several groups in deference to the loud cries for power shift to the Southern Senatorial District, a part of the state that has been politically marginalized on account of this fact, it is the only part of the state that has not produced governor since the creation of the state.

Fayose had made allusions in the past that political office can only be zoned within a political party if it is control of power and it was after series of representations had been made to him as the leader of the party in the state that he yielded most respectfully to the wishes of advocates under the weight of irrefutable logic and good judgement as long as merit and excellence are not sacrificed in arriving at such a choice. All this while, the name of the deputy had not featured.

It was in a bid for the people to owe the process leading the choice of his successor that he now threw an open challenge to the stakeholders across the party/state that the lot now fell on his deputy. Here, we are talking about a most dutiful, loyal, visionary and articulate deputy who doubles as commissioner for education and has returned the state back to its foremost frontline position in education. This is the man that Adeyeye and cohorts paints in very negative light to score an undeserving point in the run-up to the primaries: how petty!

Fayose bought into the agenda to sustain the revolutionary and giant strides in the physical infrastructure of the state; which remains unsurpassed and for the sake of continuity of his unmatched record in the annals of Ekiti. It can be said and rightly so, that Fayose started the revolution in physical infrastructure and was stalled when he was uprooted in 2006 and continued afterwards in his second coming.

It is heart warming that even the main opposition, APC, in the state have grudgingly attested to the fact that Fayose administration has sterling performance in its kitty. It is little wonder that they have not been able to hoodwink the people of Ekiti in their desperation to recruit people via propaganda, hence, their attempt to sponsor disgruntled elements within the PDP in a tepid attempt to capture power.

It is trite for Adeyeye and cohorts to search their consciences why all critical stakeholders from their zone didn’t deem it worthy to push their candidature; rather the deputy governor. That is worth pondering over in the solitude of their houses. It is indeed surprising that rather than reconcile themselves to their deficiency and stock in influence in their zone, they are hands in gloves with some elements within the APC with the intention to precipitate a needless crisis against the governor.

This is rather unfortunate as such a futile orchestration to contrive a crisis where none exist to frustrate the resolve of the good people of Ekiti to elect a candidate with impeccable credentials of their choice through cheap, subtle and naked blackmails by individuals and groups whose ascendancy to political relevance bear the imprimatur of fayose’s influence would be contained by the popular will of the people.

Turning around in the looming sunset period of their career to say; things that cannot stand the test of time or logic is mind-blogging. For them, rather than join hands in the people’s resolve to enthrone preferred candidate, they would want the house to cave in because of base emotions of greed and self centeredness. It is condescending for anybody to suggest that the deputy governor was forced into the race. Kolapo Olusola-prefaced with his demonstrable performance as deputy governor for three years remains a silent achiever.

The deputy governor; a professor from the renowned Obafemi Awolowo University, a scholar par excellence, a man of impeccable integrity, a consummate team player, a superb leader and goal getter who doubles as the state commissioner for education, who has been able to within a record period of just a year in office, restored Ekiti back to the Olympian height of academic glory, deserves our support. A silent achiever, whose aversion for brinkmanship, loose talk and cheap publicity is been taken undeserving of what they hitherto considered theirs for the taking. How mistaken they are!

By every stretch of imagination and divine blessings and the support of the good peoples of Ekiti, Olusola’s ambition has gained traction with the people and is like a moving train-that’s why the traditional politician with infantile ego are scared. His ability, track record, commitment to good governance and willingness to meet the people yearnings and aspirations is unswerving and well known to all and sundry. His extant contribution to recent huge successes under the Fayose administration is priceless. He remains tireless, detailed, sacrificial, determined, focused and humble. All of his attributes has positioned him as the heir apparent for no fault of his and some agitated people are trying to no avail to cry wolf where none exist.

While commending the determination of the governor in his resolve to do the needful, he should with steadfastness and continued sagacity which he is well noted for; continue to pilot the affairs of the state till the expiration of his well deserving mandate. He cannot afford to fail in this regard. He has stirred the people to the possibility of their power of choice-he shouldn’t let us down now to despair as this is a most critical time.

Finally, election is a march of history. The aggregate support of the people for the deputy governor must be sustained. This support is essential and the people as purveyors of his ascendancy should not be allowed to pander or derail to the machinations, dubious tactics of expiring politicians whose stock in trade is to peddle falsehood, half-truth and perpetuate principles which are antithesis of peace and stability. On no account, must the Olusola project be frittered away.

Olajide Taylor, a public affairs commentator writes from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.