Fayose opens up: Why I won Ekiti guber poll.

Ayodele Fayose, the Ekiti governor-elect, has disclosed that his cordial relationship with people at the grassroots and robust contribution to the upliftment of the masses were the factors that worked for his re-election.Fayose stated this at a maiden press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday after he had been declared the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He recorded a resounding victory with a total vote haul of 203, 090 out of the 350,256 votes cast. The returning officer for the election, Isaac Asuzu, announced the result at the INEC office in Ado-Ekiti in the early hours of Sunday. Fayose beat APC’s candidate and incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, who polled 120,433 votes. He also defeated Labour Party’s Opeyemi Bamidele who had 18,135 votes.

Fayose, who rued his “mysterious” removal from office as the governor in 2006 and alleged campaign of calumny against his candidature, played down the use of higher degrees as yardstick for good governance.

According him, being a professor or doctor might not be required for good governance, upliftment of the masses and general socio-economic development, urging other governors and leaders in any capacity to be humble and associate themselves with the people at the grassroots and initiate programmes that touch people’s lives positively.

He said, “My removal in 2006 remains a mystery to a common man on the street. They never left me for a day; they believe in me. Now, I want to equally let you know that 8 years in the wilderness, without money, without anything, I was left with these common people and my charge to every politician is to target these poor people.

“They would not for one day ask for contract, all they want is for them to have their lives improved and improvement of their standard of living which they believe I have an answer. I go to visit them (masses) in their bedrooms.

“When they organise marriage for their children I would carry cows to them, I would go to the wedding, I would do things that usually, a governor would not do because governors are always in vehicles while the people are down on earth.

“For me I am a grassroots person and because of the way I operate with them they call me Senior Advocate of the Masses. So, I want to continue that trend; I want to continuously identify with them, I owe them so much. So, the strategy is when you are voted into power don’t forget that four years is a short time, the same people will meet you again.”

He said when he opted to contest for the position of governor, some people taunted him, saying he (Fayose) has HND and Ekiti is a state of professors.

“But, I think you don’t need to be a professor to know that somebody is hungry, you don’t need to be a doctor to know that somebody needs support, that road is bad and there is no electricity. I want to tell you that my performance this time will earn me necessary leadership.”

While calling on other aggrieved governorship candidates to work together with his government, Fayose declared that he would not disrespect the defeated Governor Fayemi as he remains a very experienced person to work with in the corridor of power, saying he had contributed his quota as a governor to the development of the state.

He said, “The governor is our governor for today, he has conceded defeat and he remains my brother and he will forever remain my brother; he has contributed his quota like every other governor that has served and I must continue to get his necessary assistance.”
Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Sunday has congratulated Ayo Fayose.
Fayemi, who congratulated the governor-elect in a broadcast to the people of the state in Ado-Ekiti, described Fayose’s victory as the people’s wish.
“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayo Fayose, congratulating him on his victory.
“In a few hours from now, Monday morning, I will be meeting with the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we can work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
“We should remember we are all sons and daughters, despite our political affiliations, Ekiti remains ours to build together,” he said.
He, however, said that the achievement of his administration would be the basis for future governments to be assessed.
“We have raised the bar of excellence in the administration of the state; we have fought a good fight and we have kept faith,” Fayemi said.
President Goodluck JonaJonathan has also congratulated Ayo Fayose on his victory in the governorship poll.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Rueben Abati, on Sunday, President Jonathan urged Fayose to work with all those who contested against him to fast-track the development of the state.
The president also commended INEC, the security services and the good people of Ekiti State for the successful and peaceful conduct of the elections.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Sunday also congratulated Fayose on his victory.
This is contained in a statement issued by Uche Anichukwu, special adviser (media) to the deputy president of the Senate, in Abuja.
The statement stated that the free and fair electoral processes that threw up the winner were vital for the growth of democracy in the country.
It stated that it was an important win for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West. It commended all the parties that ensured that the election was peaceful, free, fair, and credible.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan also congratulated Fayose, urging him to see the outcome of the election as testament of the will of the people and acceptance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by President Goodluck Jonathan.