Lessons From Ekiti Elections

The gubernatorial election in Ekiti state may have come and gone, but the outcome and conducts of key personalities involved in the said election are still eliciting discuss among pundits, analysts and indeed the general public.

The election being referred to as the first of its kind in the annals of the Nation’s electioneering process is not as a result of the almost flawless conduct by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but how the incumbent Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi accepted the results.

*Newly Elected Governor, Ayodele Fayose

He has been described as a true Democrat, a perfect Gentleman and a rare breed of a politician. We should not just glut over this rare show of maturity by Fayemi, but we all should take the following as lessons from the Ekiti Election.

Fayemi/Fayose In perspective

It is a given that whenever an election result is announced in Nigeria, the losing candidate quickly go to press and cry blue murder - "they have stolen my mandate and I am heading for the court or tribunal" as the case maybe. While the winner shouts "hurray, it is victory for Democracy, the people have spoken" and the likes. But Kayode Fayemi defied the odds, he did the impossible! He called the elected Governor, conceded defeat, congratulated him on his victory and he wished him well.

What a man! Is he a Nigerian politician? I can’t find a word to describe him. I thought such gestures could only happen in God’s own country, the United States, where Candidates of either of the Democratic or Republican parties make phone calls to accept defeat and congratulate the winner. I have always known Fayemi as an intellectual and a politician with great finesse and poise. But he has taken it to a new dimension!

As for the elected Governor, Ayodele Fayose loathe or adore him, nobody can take away his doggedness and tenacity because with the battles he has fought since his impeachment in 2006, it takes a bulldozer of a politician to bounce back and defeat an incumbent Governor like Fayemi. He is truly a grassroots politician and he should be saluted. He told the world that he was sure of victory and the people of Ekiti heeded his call and voted massively for him. But on the flipside, would Fayose show the same maturity if he had lost? Would they still be peace in Ekiti today?

The Opeyemi factor

Looking at the total votes tally of Opeyemi Bamidele, one time Commissioner of Information in Lagos state and a member of the House of Representative, you might be tempted to downplay his influence on the outcome of the result after all he got a paltry 18,135 votes. A good source from the grapevine had it on good authority that days before the election, a deal was struck between the Labour Party and the PDP for supporters of Bamidele to shift their votes for the Candidate of the PDP. It would be recalled that Bamidele was prevented from contesting the gubernatorial ticket with the Incumbent Governor, Fayemi, hence his decampment to the Labour party. Would the outcome be different if Bamidele had stayed put in the APC? The lesson here is for the APC to jettison this idea of always imposing candidates and allow for a primary elections in choosing its candidates.

Elitist policy vs Stomach politics

The major criticism against the regime of Fayemi was that his policies were skewed in favour of the Elite as against the masses. Do you agree? While Fayose was seen as a man for the masses. He attends all ceremonies, knows everybody by name, hugged and dinned with the people. Was it the bags of rice that won him the votes? But Fayemi also shared rice, so it couldn’t have been just the rice. Or is Ekiti no longer the fountain of knowledge? We can sermonize till they kingdom come, the fact is, the people of Ekiti have spoken. They alone voted and they should also await the consequences.

Little wonder, Abraham Lincoln aptly puts “Election belongs to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters” The onus is now on Fayose to fulfill all the lofty promises made on campaign grounds, the people of Ekiti deserves the best.

- by Clement Ogbemudia

Source: Legit.ng