By Charles Ojo
IN about one year from now, the tenure of the incumbent governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, would be drawing to a close. It would, therefore, not be out of place to note that the governorship seat of this very enlightened State would be up for grabs by any of the gubernatorial contenders that presently parade its political landscape.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the governorship race would be a straight fight between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the ruling party in the State and All Progressives Congress (APC) which calls the shots in Abuja. By their individual profiles, these two parties are the most dominant, visible and viable. Any other parties claiming to be in the race can only be seen to be pretenders.
Political analysts are of the firm view that the competition for the gubernatorial tickets of each of the two parties would be very stiff and tough because it is given that whoever picks the ticket of any of the two parties is very much closer to clinching the coveted gubernatorial prize.
The incumbent governor who has been the arrow head of the opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari and ruling APC is going to fight tooth and nail to install his own successor. It has become the norm in Nigeria. But whether he would succeed or not is a different matter altogether.
But with what happened recently in the neighbouring Ondo State, where the governor of the PDP-controlled State failed to install a successor, it is very undoubtable that Fayose is going to have a rough time especially when the armada of Federal forces are arrayed against him.
It is against this background that political analysts are watching with keen interest to know the unfolding political configurations in the APC. Of all the aspirants known and unknown, that have indicated intention to seek the guber ticket of the party, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is seen as the man to beat. He is currently the Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development in the cabinet of President Buhari. He is highly respected and enjoys wide acceptability in the State, having served in the immediate past dispensation as the Executive Governor of the State. He lost in his re-election bid to Fayose in 2014 in circumstances that were very controversial.
As a good democrat, he accepted the outcome of the election and decided to forge ahead with his life. That singular act endeared him the more to a lot of Ekiti people and Nigerians in general who saw in him a cultured democrat and refined intellectual whose overriding consideration is the peace and development of Ekiti. From every indication and given what has transpired in the State since he left office, it could be stated without any sense of equivocation that Fayemi was ahead of his time. Since he left office, a vast majority of Ekiti people have come to appreciate him as a visionary leader who has the interest of Ekiti uppermost in his mind. They are, therefore, very eager to return him again to the Government House, Ado Ekiti.
Fayemi stands a better chance of picking the APC ticket than any other contender because of several factors which include his notable achievements as a governor and Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is rated as one of the high fliers in the Buhari cabinet. He is also one of the leading political strategists within the party. And above every other thing, he enjoys the confidence of the President who had in recent times given him some sensitive assignments on which he discharged and acquitted himself creditably.
For those who may not know, Fayemi was the arrow head of the Federal forces that delivered the APC candidate in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, as the Governor in the November, 2016 governorship election. He is very unassuming, pragmatic and effective.
As a cerebral intellectual and strategist within the power vortex of the APC, he enjoys tremendous confidence of the party leadership. It is not surprising, therefore, that he has often been singled out and saddled with strategic party assignments.
From all indications, he is expected to pick the gubernatorial ticket of the APC for a battle royale with whoever Fayose may decide to field in the election. The major contenders in the PDP who are speculated to be gunning seriously for the ticket are Chief Dayo Adeyeye, former Minister of State for Works under the Jonathan administration, Senator Biodun Olujimi and Chief Abiodun Aluko, a former Deputy Governor in the State.
Barring any last minute emergence of a dark horse, Adeyeye, Olujimi, Aluko or Chief Eleka, the current Deputy Governor is likely to emerge on the platform of the PDP to face Fayemi. The problem that may confront each of them is the Fayose baggage. Fayose has made so many enemies for himself and the State. The big gorge existing between him and the Presidency is well known to all perceptive political observers. This obvious political disadvantage will definitely rub off on whoever becomes the PDP flag bearer.
Apart from the deepening disaffection between Fayose and the Presidency, the unstable character of Fayose`s politics would also affect the chances of the PDP candidate in the final analysis. Another meaningful point that would count during the election is the desire of the majority of Ekiti people to play at the centre and not at the periphery. Playing at the periphery in Nigerian politics does not guarantee the dividends of democracy. Rather, a closer connection to the centre is what opens the door for a fair share of the dividends of democracy.
Fayemi`s strategic location at the centre is seen as a major advantage as it is sure to guarantee the people of Ekiti State meaningful representation in Abuja. Many political analysts are of the view that if he is elected, Ekiti would get its own fair share of national cake. Only time will decide.
Ojo writes from Ado-Ekiti