Head, News Desk, VICTOR EBIMOMI, examines the sudden alliance between Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, and his predecessor, Segun Oni, in the run-up to the June 21 governorship election in the State.
Ekiti State governor, Kayode FayemiyeThe saying that, in politics, there is no permanent friends or enemies, but permanent interests, played out on Monday, May 5, in Ekiti, as former Governor Segun Oni joined his erstwhile opponent and incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, in a dramatic re-union towards the prosecution of the June 21 governorship election in the state. Oni was in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Fayemi was a member of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that later fused into All Progressives Congress (APC).
To many political watchers, the re-union came as a surprise, given the protracted legal battle between the duo, which eventually culminated in the sack of Oni from office on October 15, 2010.
At the April 2007 election in which Oni was declared governor, Fayemi was his major challenger. Fayemi, who faulted the result, challenged it at the Election Petition Tribunal in Ekiti State, which declared Oni winner of the poll.
Unsatisfied, Fayemi headed for the Court of Appeal, which, on October 15, 2010, rendered judgment in his favour. The court, which sat in Ilorin, was presided over by the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.
With the verdict, the enmity between the two began, as Oni was even regarded as not existing as former governor in the eye of the law by Fayemi’s aides and supporters.
Oni’s pain was somehow made worse by the fact that his predecessor and party man, Ayo Fayose, allegedly made a mockery of him after his ouster, going to the extent of celebrating with Fayemi whom he reportedly described as a befitting governor for the state.
Thus, the current move by Oni in dumping his party and teaming up with his former political foe could be said to be a pay-back exercise to Fayose who is seen as Fayemi’s major challenger.
Observers also believe that perhaps Oni is taking revenge for the shoddy treatment that was meted out to him by PDP when he was stripped of his position as South West Vice Chairman in the days of Bamanga Tukur chairmanship of the party.
Whatever may have informed his action, analysts see the alliance between Oni and Fayemi as a boost for the governor. This is especially as Oni is also considered a heavyweight in his own right.
Fayemi himself might have reckoned with that by making the deft move of paying homage to the former governor in his Ifaki-Ekiti hometown.
Oni, who received Fayemi alongside his supporters from PDP, stated that he had decided to work with him because he was “the best option for Ekiti, at this critical time”, adding that he did not want the past to be a problem.
His words: “We are erecting a new platform to view the future and, for us, the future is the only important thing that we have to see and defer to. Yes, they are past, but I urge all of us to let the past remain in the past. All sentiments, all prejudice must remain in the past. All decisions, all hopes are going to be about the future.”
Fayemi, who was accompanied to Oni’s place by his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and deputy, Professor Dupe Adelabu; described the defection of Oni as a lesson, adding that leadership is about sacrifice and foresight.
“What my ‘egbon’ (elder brother) has demonstrated is that he is a true leader. The ruling party is still in government. He could make demands, but for him, he has demonstrated that he is a man of honour from the Land of Honour, and I know that God will always bless his ways. He has followed his conscience. He has followed his conviction. He has demonstrated that character is important to our value system. We have done everything to follow in those footsteps as Ekiti sons and daughters,” Fayemi said.
He added that the coming election may not necessarily be about performance, as his performance is never in doubt but a decision between right and wrong, light and darkness.
“His Excellency, Segun Oni, has led the way. He has lit the candle. The rest of us who are his followers owe it a duty to start lighting the candle in all the 16 local governments in the state,” said Fayemi.
He enjoined the APC members not to regard the hitherto PDP members who defected alongside the former governor as new members, but as equal in a big family.
“This family is not APC or the new PDP. This party is called Ekiti Progress,” said Fayemi.
Some of those who joined Oni to receive Fayemi at Oni’s residence were: former House of Assembly Speaker, Taiwo Olatunbosun; former House of Assembly members, Lai Oke, Kayode Babade and Femi Adeleye; commissioners in the Oni administration, Abiodun Bamiteko and Mrs. Iyabo Babatunde; former Special Adviser, Policy and Strategy, Ben Oguntuase; Mrs. Motunde Dayo-Fajuyi, among others.
However, the PDP, in reaction to the development, has stated that it was not in any way troubled, stressing that Oni’s defection is of no consequence at this level in the election, even as it agreed that he had only followed his conscience.
“Oni’s defection is of no consequence because it can’t affect the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming governorship election, whether in Ekiti or Osun State”, the party said through its acting Zonal Secretary, Banji Obasanmi.
The party’s scribe urged members in the state to remain steadfast in their support for the PDP in the coming election.
“The PDP is the only party that can bring the desired change to Ekiti, irrespective of whatever lies and propaganda that they peddle as we work towards victory,” he added, maintaining that “Ekiti people had already decided their direction in the election and it is too late for any other party to latch unto lies and deceit to confuse the people”.