Fayose who said this when he visited the LP secretariat in Ado-Ekiti where he met with its leaders explained that the role played by Bamidele was similar to his in the rerun governorship election.
“I want to thank you for making yourself available for Ekiti people as an agent of change through June 21 election. What you did is a replica of what I did in the past when I used the Labour Party to prevent a bad government installed by PDP then from continuing in office and we succeeded in putting APC in place. I divided PDP and you divided APC all for good intents and purposes. But I thank God that he has used you to play a similar role today. The journey is not too far and you have what it takes to lead our people,’’ he said. ‘’By age, experiences and exposure, you are indeed a leader of your people. I have a lot of respect for you and that’s why I have called you more than 15 times after this election insisting on seeing you. I see you as a brother and a fellow fighter from the same side of the divide.’’
Fayose who said Bamidele did not actually loose anything in the Saturday poll also added that by all standards, the lawmaker remains a reference point of integrity, service and voice of the voiceless in Ekiti any day.
The governor-elect who attended the meeting alongside his deputy governor-elect, Olusola Ojo-Eleka, had earlier solicited for Bamidele’s support in running.
He said the incoming government would need Bamidele’s wealth of experience in governance and politics to move Ekiti state forward.
He praised Bamidele for succeeding in saving the state from Governor Kayode Fayemi and APC which he described as their common enemies.
‘’By all standards you are a leader and a gentleman, that’s why I have always identified with you even before and after you contested this election. In an election there must be one governor, so as far as I’m concerned, you have lost nothing in this race. You can only count your blessings. That’s why I felt you have fought back good fight and emerged a victor’’
Bamidele in his remark said the convergence of the meeting was a turning point for Ekiti people and their democratic experience since politicians from various political platforms were beginning to come together to discuss the future of their people.
He assured that politicians from Labour Party in Ekiti State were ready to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
However, apprehension may have gripped the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State chapter following the outcome of the Ekiti State governorship election which was won by Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) last Saturday.
Investigation conducted by ***Saturday Independent*** revealed that the outcome of the election has forced the leadership of the APC into marathon meetings during the week on how to strategise to forestall a repeat of what happened in Ekiti.
It was gathered that the leadership of APC has embarked on the campaign strategy at the federal constituencies, local government and ward levels to mobilise support for the party for election which holds in 42 days time.
The outcome of Ekiti governorship Election, though shocked many political watchers in the state, the APC has since introduced new twist to its campaign strategies across the state as all political appointees in the state have been directed to distribute new school uniform to pupils in all the public primary and secondary schools in their area to replace the one already distributed to them by the state government last year.
It was also learnt that free medical check-up are being conducted for members of the public at every campaign rally of the party as well as distribution of drugs free of charge aside from assurances from the party that the second term of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will be better than what they have witnessed during the first term.
The outcome of Ekiti election has also spurred the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, into introducing campaign style of Ekiti Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose as Senator Omisore now rides on motorcycle to his campaign ground as was done by Fayose.
It was also gathered that packaged bags of rice to be distributed to party’s supporters and members are underway among other campaign gifts being planned by the party.
The recent visit of the APC leadership to the former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in his Okuku country home was said to been done as part of effort to further woo him and his supporters for the election.
The State Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, who said in a statement that the victory of Fayose was an indication that APC has been rejected by the people of the southwest urged urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to start preparing to leave the government house.
But in his reaction, Aregbesola said he was not shaken by the results saying that it was rigged in favour of PDP.
Aregebsola who spoke at a political rally in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Council, said that it is practically impossible for PDP to take over Osun, adding that the credibility of the party’s candidate is not there.
He explained that Osun has been and remains a different state that in 2011 general elections, all the Yoruba states voted for President Goodluck Jonathan but that Osun State voted for Nuhu Ribadu.
“We are quite different from Ekiti people and we are not and cannot be intimidated in any form by the outcome of Ekiti governorship election.”
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