Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said his deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka, will not succeed him in 2018.
He also said industrialisation of the state was not on his agenda because there was no adequate power supply to support such a venture, adding that he will empower the people through contract award to indigenes.
Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Sunday, Fayose, who admitted that the Constitution did not permit him to take the oath of office more than two times, said: “I have taken one and I will take another one in October. After that, I will find my way to my house.
“Again, I have chosen a deputy governor and I have told him from the beginning that the two of us will pack our load and leave the Government House because I don’t want a deputy that will start playing politics behind me when we are in government and will be distracting me, I don’t want that again.
“So, he is practically here for me to look after certain things for me and ensure that we succeed. When I am going, I will hold his hand and say bye to Ekiti people”.
The governor-elect, while addressing his supporters who visited him after the declaration of the governorship elections result, cautioned them against insulting the outgoing Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
He also warned them against fighting any group in the name of politics because the electioneering was over.
“The governor is the leader of our state as of today. He has conceded defeat. He is my brother and forever will remain my brother. He has contributed his quota, he has done his best like every governor that has served and we must continue to give him the necessary respect that he deserves”, he said.
Fayose, who said he owed his victory to “God and common man in Ekiti”, called for unconditional release of those arrested before and during the election because of the political tension that enveloped the state.
He promised to rehabilitate victims of the political violence and compensate those that lost properties because, “It will be impossible for me to come back eight years after I left the Government without their supports”, he noted.
Fayose thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies as well as other PDP Governorship aspirants for working to ensure his victory.
He promised to work with Gov. Fayemi and the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, for conceding defeat to him, saying “the government belongs to all of us”.
“This is still Ekiti, the homogenous State that speaks only one language. Four years is very small in the life of any government
“Fayemi has called me to concede defeat. We will see him tomorrow and let the public know that we are one. Ekiti belongs to us all. A governor only gets a term and Ekiti will remain. Fayemi lost election today because the only thing that is constant in life is change”.
Fayose added that, “I told you during my campaign that this is Ayo Fayose that is older and wiser and who is ready to work with everybody. Fayemi is my brother and he will forever remain so. He has contributed his own quota to the development of this State
“I also want to state that whoever suffered any loss during the electioneering campaign will be compensated by the government when assume office”.
He assured that his performance will surpass the one recorded in his first term “because I want to be Chief Obafemi Awolowo here. As regards performance, I will surely perform because I have promised the people and this has been part of me”.
To ease decongest the existing roads and reduce traffic, Fayose promised to construct two flyovers in Fajuyi and Mathew street “where traffic needs better control. Also, I will embark on operation tar all untarred roads in Ado Ekiti in two years”.
Fayose also debunked the insinuation in some quarters that Ekiti was poor, saying: “If I could save N10bn between 2003 and 2006 during my first term, you can imagine what I would do now. It is the manager that must be careful in the management of resources”.
He added that as much as he would be taking useful advice from indigenes of Ekiti State in the Disapora, his government will only recognise those who make themselves available in the developmental strides.
