Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who lost in his bid to govern the state for a second term, has congratulated Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for emerging victorious in Saturday’s governorship elections in the state.
Governor Fayemi, in a broadcast on Sunday, said he had no option than to accept the result of the election and congratulate Fayose if the outcome of the election was, indeed, the will of the Ekiti people.
Fayemi revealed that he had spoken with the governor-elect, congratulating him on his victory, adding that he would be meeting Fayose in the next few hours to fashion out ways to conduct a smooth transition programme.
He described the election as a hard-fought one, adding that despite party affiliations, Ekiti people should see themselves as one.
Gov. Fayemi noted that the record of performance of his administration would continue to be a reference point in the history of the state, stressing that he had succeeded in raising the bar of excellence in governance.
In a concession speech titled “If This Is the Will of the People”, Fayemi said, “Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial election held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
“If this is, indeed, the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the election is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.
“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I will be meeting the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we can work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
“It has been a hard-fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavoury episodes as the candidates toured the nook and cranny of the state to sell ourselves to the people.
“Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.
“On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nook and cranny of this state.
“Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and, indeed, future governments will be assessed,” he said.
He added, “We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
“Indeed, a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
“To members of our party, our campaign team and, indeed, all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course.
“The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records”.