Fayemi is presidential material —Tunde Kelani

Veteran film maker, Tunde Kelani, has joined the ranks of eminent Nigerians who have lauded the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for conceding defeat and also for expressing his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition of power to his successor, Ayodele Fayose on October 16.

The cinematographer argued on Wednesday that Fayemi was the real hero of the just concluded election in the state, noting that he had made a huge sacrifice in deepening democracy and entrenching peace and tranquility in Nigeria.

Kelani tweeted that Fayemi was, indeed, a future “presidential material” that Nigeria needs to take it to the ‘Promised Land’.

Kelani said, “The real hero of the election in Ekiti State is none other than the incumbent, Kayode Fayemi, who, by his gesture, has set an extraordinary standard in democracy in Nigeria.

“Fayemi is, no doubt, a future presidential material if Nigeria is destined to fulfill her leadership role on the continent.

“We know your antecedents; your achievement in Ekiti State will always be on record and your role in global peace resolution is also widely acknowledged. Kayode Fayemi, I doff my hat!”

A former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party, Dele Momodu, has also saluted Fayemi’s courage for accepting defeat, saying he wished many politicians could emulate him.

“It is always difficult for humans to accept defeat, but I’m sure my friend and brother, Kayode Fayemi, has done his best and we are proud of him! There are always lessons to be learnt from every election and I sincerely hope everyone would go back to the drawing board,” Momodu tweeted.

But a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on Wednesday moved to lure Fayemi to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Fani-Kayode stated that Fayemi was a “first class gentleman and a good sportsman” whose services would be needed in the PDP.

He argued that the way and manner Fayemi conceded victory to the PDP candidate in the election in a state-wide live broadcast was unusual and spoke volumes about his democratic credentials.

Writing on his Facebook page, the former minister said the rejection of Fayemi in the election where he “clearly lost” should not be the end of his political career.

According to him, Fayemi is one of the most cerebral, disciplined, compassionate and civilised leaders that the APC has within its ranks; adding that the governor gave the party some semblance of integrity and credibility.

Fani-Kayode said, “Once again, I offer hearty congratulations to my friend, Ayo Fayose; and to the leadership of the Ekiti State PDP on their historic victory in the governorship election that took place in their state yesterday. The people of Ekiti have spoken and their choice must be respected by all.

“My heart goes out to my brother, Kayode Fayemi, who clearly lost the election but who remains not only a man of honour but also one of the finest minds in the country. His state broadcast where he conceded defeat to Fayose proves my point and it speaks volumes.

“By that single act alone, Fayemi has guaranteed a place for himself in the future of Yoruba and Nigerian politics; and if he can only change parties, he will still go very far indeed. For him, the future is still very bright and the sky is the limit. I salute his courage and commend his past efforts for Nigeria and his state.”

Fani-Kayode argued that the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, should be prepared to face the same fate as his counterpart in Ekiti, come August.

“God has rejected the APC; and the sooner they accept that hard fact and bitter truth, the better it will be for them and for Nigeria. Yesterday, it was Ekiti. Tomorrow, it will be Osun,” Fani-Kayode wrote.

Meanwhile, going from the APC’s experience in Ekiti State, Aregbesola appeared to have stepped up his campaign, especially his social media engagement with the citizens of the state, in an apparent move to get more people to vote for him.

A message on his Twitter page on Wednesday stated that the people of the state had always traditionally identified with the APC and would not, at the last minute, ditch it for the PDP. “When the whole of the South West went for Jonathan in 2011 presidential election, Osun State stayed with Aregbesola for Nuhu Ribadu (APC presidential candidate)” the message read.

The Osun State governor also insisted that in spite of the “drastically dropping” monthly revenue allocation for the state from the Federation Account, he had no such plans to retrench public servants or cut their salaries.

“Even with the shortfall in monthly revenue allocation from the Federation Account, our administration has no plan to cut or reduce salary of its workers,” he added on Facebook.