Lessons From Ekiti Elections

The political swing in the South western states of Nigeria swerved to a different direction during the just concluded Ekiti State gubernatorial election. Many had anticipated that the ACN which metamorphosed into APC would have continued its dominance in the south western geo-political zone but only for the PDP through its proverbial prodigal son; Ayo Fayose, to change that anticipations in favour of the national ruling party.
The loss of Ekiti State by APC to the PDP could mean that the national ruling party may have finally found the jocularity to regaining their lost states to the APC. With August 9th gubernatorial Elections in Osun state around the corner; who knows.
Fayose may have proven a very big point that he still remains the best candidate for the job. Without mincing words and in all fairness to every quarter, the last straw that broke the camel’s back in the just concluded election was the right choice of candidate by PDP. Having gone through the profile of other candidates for the primaries, am sure Dr. Kayode Fayemi would have returned unopposed to his job if PDP had presented other candidate than Fayose.
Having said this, am sure the entire working committees of the ruling party will be shopping for such candidates with alike pedigree as Fayose in Osuns and even in other APC controlled states as the 2015 general elections draw nearer. While the APC will be dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s so as to forestall any eventuality in any of these elections.’
For state like Lagos, one would want to believe that the candidature of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro might pose a serious threat to the APC in the race of Lagos State governor. The die-hard nature of the Obanikoros grassroots politicians will make the race to Aluasa a tight horse race just like that of Ekiti. More so, it is obvious that Obanikoro seem to be the most popular candidate in Lagos today for the race towards the Alausa office.
The Ekiti State elections may have come and gone with both winner and looser emerged, but Fayemi has set a record that may have found his name written in gold in the political history of this nation, though that’s for the history students to know. His acceptability, congratulatory messages and invitation to his successor shows that he is a true democrat, a good sportsmanship and a transparent fellow. He may have failed to dance to the beats of his supposed masters by his actions or may have failed to consult them before his acceptance speech, but not the less, the lesson is that; Nigerians can actually do the politics the right way if we choose and admire the “Fayemi spirit”.
Without the benefit of the doubt, am sure that the APC also must have accepted the fate of losing Ekiti State, while anticipating other political parties to emulate them is swallowing the bitter pills of loss in time to come be it at the local, state or even at the federal level. The acceptability of the loss by APC means that the party has set precedence to other parties in the event of an incumbent losing election.
Most importantly, it is worthy to note that the era of power of incumbency is gradually phasing out within the Nigeria politics, while the peoples ‘votes are beginning to have a say. With the just concluded elections, it is imperious for every elected officer to know that the time for their stewardship to determine their fate has come.
Our fifteen years of democracy is obviously growing and requires every nurturing such as the fayemilogy i.e. that is the spirit of accepting defeat in good faith and building a country or state of no party after the elections. Nigeria should remain our priority while our parties should be secondary, hence it is important to realise that after every campaigns and elections, our objective should always be to build and move the country stronger and forward from her position.
The in-coming PDP government of Ekiti State should not hesitate to identify any role where Fayemi’s intellectuals and skill will be needed to move the state higher. The party differences should end once the elections are over no matter at the levels.
Fayemi, may not be the first to lose an election, but he has demonstrated the spirit of oneness; like the military will say “es spirit de corp”. With such spirit as this, there is every need for him to remain relevant in the affairs of Ekiti State in his capacity of a true elder state man. Long live Nigeria.