Governor Tanko Umar Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has predicted that Dr. Kayode John Fayemi, who had just won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket as candidate for the forthcoming election in Ekiti State will find it easy to clinch the final victory.
Al-Makura, who headed the APC election committee at the recent party primary in the State said: “I think we can consider this election as a foregone conclusion, given the support and the solidarity shown by other aspirants after the declaration.
The Nasarawa governor, who spoke to news men shortly after he formally presented Dr. Fayemi to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today,Wednesday, said that he had an inkling that Fayemi is going to enjoy the support of all the aspirants who contested with him for te party’s ticket.
“If you look at the quality, the competence, the maturity of the delegates who have unanimously voted Fayemi, you will know that out there, the caliber of people they control are also people that represent the interest of Ekiti State.
“Should the election hold today, I can assure you that with what we have seen, we are comfortable that Fayemi will emerge the governor of Ekiti State.”
Also speaking, Dr. Fayemi, who is currently the minister of Mines and Solid Minerals, said tat with the party election concluded: “we can say that we are ready to go forward and campaign for the election in line with INEC conditions.”
The APC governorship flag bearer said that a critical hurdle has been crossed but that he had a major work to do.
“The important thing is to see this as a collective rescue mission and I am glad that my co-contestants have seen it in that light. I have met with all the co-contestants, I have broken fast with them, I have shared ideas with them, I have also extended an olive branch to them to be part of the candidate advisory council for this election, and they have all graciously agreed to do that. “We are confident that the APC will carry the day but there is still a lot of work to do.”
On the issue of the current governor, Ayodele Fayose calling him a walk in the park and that PDP candidate defeat him woefully, Dr. Fayemi said: “Well, as far as I am aware, Fayose is not on this ballot. We will deal with the candidate on this ballot and the track record that we have in Ekiti is what will sell us.”
Responding to a question on the probe panel that brought out the report and his recent public apology, he said he did not just apologize on its own, adding that what he said was that there were people in Ekiti even though they were minority, who were not happy with some of the policies and programmes of his government whilst he was in office “and to such people, I tender an apology.
“But, for me the rescue mission in Ekiti is a job that has to be done. What do you want? You want continuity or lack of salary, continuity of poverty, continuity of want, continuity of directionlessness or so you want to return to a past of buoyancy, human development, accountability and transparency in government. That is the clear dividing line and people can see that.
“As to the probe panel that you mentioned, well, I don’t want to dwell on the probe panel. But, the law the land of the land is clear, it is only a court of competent jurisdiction that can convict anyone, any Nigerian for any malfeasance. You cannot seat in your house, cook up a probe panel, a kangaroo tribunal and you say you have indicated someone and that person is guilty and should be ban from public office. That is just a joke but then the man we are taking about is an Alawada like we say in Yorubaland, so that is not surprising.”
