Former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Ganiyu Owolabi, Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, Governor Kayode Fayemi, his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Chief of Staff, Mr Yemi Adaramodu and APC State Organising Secretary, Chief Dele Falusi at the flag off of Fayemis re-election campaign in Isan-Ekiti .
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Sunday, kicked off his re-election campaign at his Isan-Ekiti country home in grand style.
The Governor who began the day with a special thanksgiving service at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti, called on all aspirants to brace up for issue-based campaigns and avoid the use of violence in pursuit of their ambition as the state prepares for the June 21 governorship election.
Fayemi who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he dedicated the day to offer prayers to God for the peaceful conduct of the June 21 governorship election.
The service was attended by members of his family, members of the state executive councils, members states house of Assemblies, federal law makers representing the state and party faithful.
Fayemi pleaded that he does not want the blood of any person in Ekiti to be shed on the altar of politics, urging all aspirants and their supporters to go to the election which he described as a “marketplace of ideas” to sell their programmes and allow the electorate choose the best person to lead them.
The four-in-one event also featured an open field campaign rally at Isan- Ekiti, the commissioning of the Campaign office at Ado –Ekiti and unveiling of the JKF re-election campaign logo.
Emphasizing on the need to give peace a chance at the governorship poll, Fayemi said Ekiti has witnessed peace since he came to office in October 2010and has since moved on from a state that used to experience “one week one trouble” to a peaceful and prosperous state.
In his remarks at the church service, Fayemi said he chose the day the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted ban on open campaign to commit his second term ambition to the hands of God in his land of nativity.
He noted that to ensure that the governorship poll is peaceful, politicians, security agencies, voters and other stakeholders must not allow the peace of the state to be disturbed by those who want to spill blood because of politics.
Fayemi said, “If there is an election that should be issue-based and devoid of violence, it should be this one.
“We are all witnesses to the fulfilment of God’s purpose in our land. Our people are not stupid, they will make up their minds whether they want to return to the sordid past of one-week-one-trouble or maintain the path of peace, tranquility, progress and development we have been experiencing since we came to office three and a half years ago.
“We are here to pray for the peaceful conduct of this election and in my broadcast earlier this morning, I emphasized the importance of peaceful election in Ekiti State and why we must contribute to the peaceful conduct.
“No ambition, not even my own, is worth the spilling of the blood of any person in Ekiti and I want to urge everyone of us to conduct ourselves in a non-violent manner.
“This is a contest of ideas and the people can judge us on how we have conducted ourselves since October 2010. Those who believe they have better ideas are free to take them to the people and leave the people to decide the direction of our journey.
“The people know the difference between the good and the bad, the light and the darkness. The People have seen the difference between the way Ekiti looked in the last three and half years and what it is today”.
Earlier in his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye, called on INEC to be independent in name and in deed saying “Ekiti people are honourable and won’t take nonsense”.
The cleric warned politicians against treating the electorate with disrespect by dropping money in a bid to win their votes.”This is another season of politics when people will be running after politicians and this is the time for highest bidder politics. For people who collect money from highest bidder politicians they will always lose at the end because such money never lasts”,Ajakaye said.
The bishop who said he has heard some people complaining that Fayemi does not throw money around like some politicians charged the Governor to maintain his attitude. He noted that Fayemi’s refusal to throw money around, but spent it on developmental projects, had resulted in the delivery of many life-changing policies and projects in the state.
Ajakaye recalled that the people of Israel murmured against Moses in the Bible called on the Governor to remain focused as it is very difficult to satisfy everybody. “You can’t satisfy everybody, if you want to satisfy everybody, it is shame that will end it.
The cleric advocated that lawmaking in Nigeria should be made part-time to give room to people who have genuine intention to legislative for the people without being motivated by money.
The indigenes of Isan-Ekiti, acting under the aegis of the Home Support Group, declared at the rally that Fayemi has performed well in office to merit another term and will be supported to realize the ambition.
The Governor was joined on the campaign podium by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, first civilian Governor of the State and APC National Vice Chairman (South West), Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and other top government officials.
The traditional ruler of the community, the Onisan, Oba Sunday Ajiboye, prayed for the Governor saying his ancestors will back Fayemi to win re-election in the June 21 election.
The |President of Isan Progressive Union (IPU), Chief Bade Gboyega, said all indigenes of the community will give their total support to their illustrious son, whom he said had done the community and indeed the state proud by his administrative style.
Addressing the crowd, Fayemi appreciated the support he has enjoyed from his kinsmen for the past three and half years saying the rally has proved that he is well accepted at home.
He explained that all parts of the state have been touched by his administration in the delivery of dividends of democracy adding that he is encouraged to run for another term by his desire to serve Ekiti people better.
Fayemi said he has represented the Isan people well as his administration has run a corruption-free administration and ensured development across the nooks and crannies of the state.
The Governor urged Ekiti people to be wary of “the party of looters” threatening to stage a comeback to power saying Ekiti people have resolved not to go back to the era of criminality and brigandage.
He said, “In this three and a half years, there is no place where dividends of democracy have not reached in Ekiti State. There is no road in Ekiti now that will make you to change your brake pads again and there is no road that will make your engine knock.
“No government official has been arrested by EFCC since we came to office and we are now enjoying peace in Ekiti State. I heard that the looting party, the fraudulent party are threatening again but all we are saying is forward ever backward never.
“Ekiti State shall not return to the era of criminality, era of brigandage, era, of trouble, era of criminality, era of thuggery, era of one week, one trouble.
“In this journey, I will never walk alone, Ekiti will not go back to darkness. The light has come to Ekiti and the light will stay in Ekiti”.
The train later moved to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where the Governor commissioned his campaign office, located on Ajilosun Area of the state capital. He also unveiled the campaign logo amids funfair
Last modified: March 23, 2014
