20th May, 2022
By Opeyemi Gbemiro
The candidate of Accord Party in the Ekiti State June 18 governorship election, Reuben Famuyibo, has disclosed how the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo invited him to join the gubernatorial race, but later abandoned him.
Adebayo, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC is also a former governor of Ekiti State.
However, Famuyibo told some traditional rulers during an interactive session he held with them in Omuo-Oke, Ekiti, that he was invited by the Minister who later abandoned him to join the governorship race, according to a media statement, signed by Accord Party’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Olajide Omonolomoju, in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
The Accord Party gubernatorial candidate, according to the statement, disclosed how his journey for the governorship of Ekiti began with a call from former Gov. Niyi Adebayo, to him to join the race to liberate the state from the stagnation it had found itself since the advent of the present democratic dispensation.
He, however, expressed dismay that midway into the journey, Adebayo reneged, saying that his hands are tied and made a u-turn.
Famuyibo said this was after he had toured all the wards in the State, and even went to Abuja to pick the APC nomination forms, only to be told by a state governor that Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, already had a candidate he had presented to them.
But said his desire to liberate Ekiti people made him to pitch his tent with Accord Party, which he said has no godfather to dictate the tune.
Omonolomoju further claimed in the statement members of the Ekiti State Traditional Council of Chiefs endorsed the candidature of Famuyibo at the meeting.
Famuyibo had reminded them of all of the vital role he played to ensure that Ekiti State came into existence in 1997.
He used the opportunity of the interaction to disclose to the custodians of tradition and culture what he would do for Ekiti and its people, if given the mandate to lead them.
His plan for Ekiti people includes the creation of cottage industries in each local government area; payment of 13th month salary to all categories of workers, creation of jobs for the teeming Ekiti graduates and youths who have become commercial motorcycle (okada) operators, improvement of the health sector to ensure that each local government has a cottage hospital to cater for the health of the people, and partnering with foreign investors to revive majority of the moribund enterprises in Ekiti and an amazing many other promises.
To the Obas, he said: “Enough of the suffering in Ekiti, enough of the rotation of governorship seat among the same set of people, if you give me the opportunity, I promise not to let you down, I pledge not to disappoint you.
“Let us try a new hand and a new party that has no godfather anywhere to dictate the tune.”
The Traditional rulers led a special prayer session for Famuyibo, after the interactive session, in which the Elesure of Esure Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibola, committed Famuyibo and his aspiration into God’s hand, praying God to make his becoming governor a possibility.