The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that he would not impose his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, as the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Kolapo is Fayose’s choice candidate for the guber election which will come up next year.
“The adoption [of Olusola] does not mean there will be no primary. Even for sole candidates, there must be a no or yes answer, so the primary must hold,” he said.
The governor spoke in response to claims that he was acting against his earlier statement that he and his deputy would not contest next election.
“I have taken one [oath] and I will take another one in October. After that, I will find my way to my house. Again, I have chosen a deputy governor and I have told him from the beginning that the two of us will pack our load and leave the Government House because I don’t want a deputy that will start playing politics behind me when we are in government and will be distracting me, I don’t want that again.
“So, he is practically here for me to look after certain things and ensure that we succeed. When I am going, I will hold his hand and say bye to Ekiti people,” Fayose had said.
But in his reaction to the criticism, he said his earlier proposal was a wish which had changed.
He said his deputy had the right to contest while he (Fayose) also had the right to choose him as his choice candidate.
He however said that he would not impose him on anyone or group as other interested parties would be free to contest against him.
His words: “Man proposes, God disposes. Sometimes, you wish some [people] as girlfriend, but they become your wife as perfection, judgment and finality are exclusively of God. The young man is outstanding in character.
“Above all, constitutionally, my deputy is at liberty to run [for election] and I am at liberty to support anyone of my choice. Above all, other aspirants have nothing to fear if they have capacity to defeat him [Olusola] as the primary election is ahead.
“If my support was for them, they would not complain. Rather, they would be celebrating it by now. Most of the aspirants complaining made a success of their political career through God’s grace and by my humble self. They never complained when they were rising at the expense of others.”
