In Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji (BAO) has different levels of supporters. There are early morning supporters, afternoon supporters, evening supporters, and late night (pajawiri) supporters.
Therefore, if former Governor Kayode Fayemi is still a member of APC and is now doing damage control is immaterial. He is the one who knows whether or not his ‘pajawiri’ support is because others have moved, left him behind and his option can no longer fly.
More so that we know those who are pained that their political journey to the ADC was truncated because they had no one behind them in their journey of political confusion. They are just waking up from their slumber because they realised that the ship of Governor Oyebanji is sailing successfully without them.
Obviously too, a Fayemi, who didn’t become the Governor of Ekiti by his own strength and efforts, and serially betrayed and ridiculed those who made him governor twice, will be envious of the kind of overwhelming political support Governor Oyebanji is enjoying presently.
For me therefore, I was at the reception held in Abuja after the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, submitted his party’s nomination form with fanfare, not as a ‘pajawiri’ supporter. Rather, I attended the reception to openly show my support for his reelection based on the directive of my political leader, mentor and benefactor, Ayodele Fayose.
For me too, Governor Oyebanji, who is unarguable Fayemi’s senior in Ekiti politics, has done well to deserve a second term, and I have no apologies for supporting him.
I know how as governor, someone made our existence almost impossible, invading our residence in Ado Ekiti with thugs, arresting us, detaining us and charging us to courts for doing nothing apart from criticising his government and sensitising the people against his failures in governance. Governor Oyebanji is not doing these to me, or anyone in Ekiti.
Therefore, supporting Governor Oyebanji, who has made no one, including myself his enemy to be persecuted, is my duty as an Ekiti man. No apologies!
More so that the governor, who is the one seeking a reelection appreciates our support and he is not taking it for granted.
If for this, a betrayal who has fallen out of grace politically see us as ‘iru wa, ogiri wa,’ I accept. This same ‘iru wa, ogiri wa’ was what Fayemi relied on in 2009, when he turned Fayose’s Afao Ekiti residence to his second home, only to turn his back at him after assuming office as Governor in 2010.
Unlike Fayemi, Governor Oyebanji, has demonstrated that he is a thoroughbred Omoluabi, and it should be clear that his late-night support for the governor is a baggage no one will like to carry. How I wish he (Fayemi) knows how much he is hated in Ekiti?
Therefore, the damage control Fayemi is using Fayose to do, trying to impress Governor Oyebanji cannot fly, the governor knows his genuine supporters. You can’t be against the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and be claiming to be in support of the reelection of Governor Oyebanji in Ekiti. Or can someone claim to love a child and hate his father?
For Fayemi, we know that in Abuja, his betrayal of those who made him the governor of Ekiti State, twice will continue to hunt him and by the time Governor Oyebanji is reelected, his (Fayemi) political humiliation will be total and complete.
Therefore, as patriotic Ekitis, we will keep giving Governor Oyebanji that ‘iru wa, ogiri wa’ support that he (Fayemi) never intended to give until he saw that there was nowhere to hide.
*My name is still Lere Olayinka. I am just leaving the topmost part of Oke Agbonna in Okemesi Ekiti, after spending two nights with the Irúnmalès.*
