WHY WE ARE BACKING FAYEMI- PDP ELDERS … as Ekiti indigenes in Ondo State endorse Fayemi’s re-election
Some Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State at the weekend made good their words not to work for the party’s candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose as they publicly declared their support for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Two of the 18 PDP stakeholders who had a few days ago signed an advertorial dissociating themselves from Fayose’s candidature- Justice Edward Ojuolape (rtd) and Chief Dapo Alibaloye- had at the adoption of Governor Fayemi by Ekiti indigenes in Ondo State, said they are supporting Fayemi to continue his good works in Ekiti beyond 2014 because the candidate of the PDP does not possess the qualities that dignify the personality of Ekiti State.
Ojuolape and Alibaloye who were at the adoption meeting by Ekiti Descendants Union in Akure on Saturday, said the State does not need a governor who is lacks character and who neither respects elders nor the office of the governor.
The duo said Fayemi in contrast is a humble leader who has carried out governance with panache and great sense of responsibility and is seen as a shining light among fellow governors.
“As stakeholders in the Ekiti project, we owe the people the responsibility of directing them to vote for someone that we believe can dignify the personality of Ekiti State. This we believe Ayo Fayose does not possess. We need a befitting governor. When the President gave us the person who pleased him, we told him we cannot work with him, and that is why we decided to support Fayemi whom we believe can carry on our vision for the development of Ekiti State”, Alibaloye said.
At the event, Ekiti indigenes in Ondo State under the platform of Ekiti Descendants Union (EDU) pledged their support for the re-election of Governor Fayemi.
The State President of the Union, Mr Dare Adebayo in his speech said the Union decided to support Fayemi because of his achievements in the State in the last three and a half years.
Adebayo who listed the strides of the Fayemi-led administration to include the much celebrated and foremost social security scheme in West Africa which according to him has prolonged the life span of the aged citizens in the State, the distribution of laptop computers to students as well as the renovation of schools which have enhanced the performance of students in national examinations.
The Union who displayed their voter cards as evidence of readiness to participate in the Saturday poll said they would come home and re-elect Fayemi so that the good works which the governor has done and which they are proud of will continue.
In his remarks, the Governor said he is not surprised by the endorsement from both the PDP stalwarts and the Ekiti in Diaspora; saying that everyone who is committed to the values and progress of the State is certain to pitch their tents with him.
Dr. Fayemi who stated that the endorsement has placed upon him the burden to increase his performance on re-election asserted that the PDP elders have been consistent in their defense of Ekiti values and are sure not to support anyone who is liable of moving the State backwards.
He reiterated that the essence of seeking re-election is to continue to move the State forward to an enviable height and deliver to the people the development that can be a reference for upcoming generations.
He said: “These are elders that are known all over Ekiti having been consistently defensive of Ekiti values. They have come out to endorse my candidature. It is a humbling thing but I think it also places a lot of burden of responsibility on me. The whole point of asking for a second term is to consolidate on what we have done and to ensure that we don’t suffer any reversal in the state. Ekiti state must go forward, it cannot retrogress because our people are desirous of consolidating the developmental transformation that has taken place in the state. So I am not surprised that anyone who has value of progress, decency, compassion and of wanting competent people in government naturally want to endorse my candidature because I believe as they do, we have done well in office “.