Despite the general belief that the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election has defined which is supreme between ‘federal might’ and ‘state might’, the war of words between Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and President Muhammadu Buhari has portrayed the two politicians as two parallel lines, even in the aftermath of Ekiti governorship election.
Fayose’s candidate, Prof.Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, despite the support of a godfather, could not withstand the heat from a Presidency-backed Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Minister for Mines and Steel Development.
As for Mr. Fayose and his morbid brand of politics, it is now his time to reconcile himself to the imminent political extinction he faces, his political career sealed for good
Governor Fayose will hand over power to Dr. Fayemi on October 16, this year, following which the former ceases to enjoy the immunity of a governor.
Speculations are, however, rife that Fayose may be picked up after leaving office to answer to some criminal charges pending against him. But to wit, the outgoing governor is unfazed, as he still looks President Buhari straight in the face, despite being an underdog.
While congratulating the winner of the Ekiti election, however, the Presidency mocked Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party.
In a titled, “Fayose: In The End, A High-Powered Nothing”, Fayose was mocked as an empty barrel that only makes noise without accomplishment.
The statement which was signed by Shehu Garba, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, stated, “The people of the politically significant state of Ekiti have spoken against their Governor, outgoing governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who told them that the governorship election they just had was a referendum on President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He said candidates, Kayode Fayemi and Olusola Eleka, were pawns and that he and President Buhari were the actual contestants.
“In what observers said was the most intense, and the angriest campaign, the people gave their verdict: Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the one-time governor, declared persona-non-grata is now persona-grata again. President Buhari has won this referendum. The people of the state have sent a clear message.
It is only Buhari that will pride himself with security agents shooting sporadically at polling centres, scaring people to pave the way for the APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes
“The politics of brinksmanship, assaults, insults, abuses and Robin Hoodism disguised as stomach infrastructure has been rejected in favour of politics of inclusion, development, responsibility and good governance.
“President Buhari’s war against corruption and insecurity; the message of agric revolution and infrastructure development and fidelity in resource allocation and management have struck a chord with Ekiti voters, who had been lied to and deceived by Governor Fayose. While the opposition continued to rant at him, President Buhari’s uprightness, coupled with incorruptibility and personal integrity, unmatched by any politician in the country has again stood the test of time.
“As for Mr. Fayose and his morbid brand of politics, it is now his time to reconcile himself to the imminent political extinction he faces, his political career sealed for
good.
“Newspapers have mistaken him for a gadfly who creates discomfort for the government at the centre to make it better, but Fayose is a street-type thug. He never fits the role of a gadfly because he thrives on bitter enmity. Opposition does not mean a negative view of everything. Neither does it translate into a licence to abuse your superiors.
“The winner of the election, Governor Fayemi’s trajectory from a persona-non-grata to a persona-grata again has given a wave of cheer to APC members all over the country. It has given a fresh hope that fake news, lies and propaganda run only short distances, because they have short legs.
“An old proverb says ‘you can’t beat something with nothing. After all the noise, theatricals and drama, Fayose’s fall came with a thud, not a bang: a high-powered nothing.”
But Fayose, in a die-hard spirit, couldn’t wait to respond to the Presidency’s message.
In his response, the outgoing governor told President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress that he would have the last laugh over the Ekiti State gubernatorial election which the People’s Democratic Party lost on Saturday, July 14, 2018.
In a statement signed by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor boasted that he doesn’t lose battles and will not lose this one.
He said the APC should be ashamed of winning the election “in a violent and shameful manner” and said only Buhari could pride himself for such a conduct.
He said, “I am Peter Ayodele Fayose, I hold my head high. I can never be suppressed. I don’t lose battles and I will not lose this. I will laugh last.
“The President should note what the Bible says which applies to him, ‘He that wears the armour should not boast as he that
removes it.’
“It is only Buhari that will pride himself with security agents shooting sporadically at polling centres, scaring people to pave the way for the APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes.
“If APC has truly won, why is it that there is no jubilation in Ekiti? The victory of Kayode Fayemi is pyrrhic. We will reclaim the stolen mandate in the court by the power of God.”
Will that, however, the real battle shifts to the courtroom, once the Election Petition Tribunal begins sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
