EKITI 2018: I OFFER TO STAY AWAY FROM PRIMARIES FOR PEACE ―FAYOSE
EKITI
2018: I OFFER TO STAY AWAY FROM PRIMARIES FOR PEACE ―FAYOSE
Governor Ayodele Fayose
GOVERNOR Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has offered to vacate the state
or stay away from the governorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
scheduled for May 8, 2018, to buttress his neutrality in the coming polls.
Governor Fayose spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday while welcoming
the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, former Senate
President, David Mark and other leaders of the party, who were in the state to
reassure the party faithful of their desire to conduct free and fair primaries.
They had come to Ekiti as a follow-up to an earlier meeting in
Abuja to mediate in the crisis generated in the party by Governor Fayose’s
support of his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola, for the governorship.
He, however, noted that whether he was absent or not at the
primary, this would make no difference as any candidate he supports stood a
better chance to carry the day.
The governor, who described himself as “the only reigning
professor of politics in the state,” said without attempting to play God, he
was aware he could win the election without being physically present on the day
of the election.
He reiterated his support for his deputy to emerge as the
candidate of the party in the July 14 election but said such backing of his
deputy did not stop others equally interested in seeking the ticket.
He said: “If other aspirants are not comfortable with my presence
on the day of the primary, I am ready to vacate the state if that will usher
the needed peace.
“What I know however is that with God almighty behind me, I will
still come back to receive certificate of victory from my people.”
Earlier in an address to the crowd that welcomed the leaders of
the PDP, Prince Secondus reiterated that all stakeholders, especially all the
governorship aspirants, of their determination to be unbiased in the conduct of
the exercise.
Secondus said: “I assure you once again, there will be
transparency and the process would not cheat anybody. I urge you to join the
leaders to work together to ensure free and fair transparent primaries, eminent
Nigerian are conducting the primaries.
“We urge you to remain calm. We also urge INEC and security agents
not to be partial but come to defend democracy. Doing that the best if our
people will serve the people the best. From here we are moving to other parts
of the country for sensitisation.”
Also speaking Senator Mark, who was the chairman of the
reconciliation committee, said: “First is that I have been working on bringing
peace to Ekiti by reconciling all parties and that has been done very well. I
thank you supporters for the peace and agreement to work together.
“Secondly is to assure you that the process leading to the final
election of whoever will become PDP candidate in Ekiti for the July poll will
be free fair and credible. If we are insisting that INEC must be fair, it means
we will have to do so ourselves at the party level. Nobody will write
delegates’ names. Everyone will vote for the candidate of his choice.
“We will ensure this and all stakeholders will ensure it. We want
to show the world what internal democracy is. Internal democracy will ensure
that you all fight for your preferred candidates and we will ensure that.”
At the meeting were the deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olubunmi
Olusola, Senator Biodun Olujimi and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, who are all
aspirants in the election.
