Why no governor has run two consecutive terms in Ekiti since 1999 —Bamisile

The lawmaker representing Emure/Ekiti East/Gbonyin federal constituency and chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Chief Femi Bamisile, speaks with ‘YOMI AYELESO on his aspirations and  relationship with Governor Kayode Fayemi, among other sundry issues.

According to the timetable and schedule of election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Ekiti 2022 governorship poll, political party primaries are expected to be concluded in January. But so far there has been little or no activities from the aspirants, what do you think is the cause?

Yes, 2022 is just four months away and as a politician, December, for me, is not counted. It is a holiday time for everybody. I have about three months to go. Yes it is clear that things seem a little bit down in the political sphere of Ekiti; it looks like there is no election in the state, compared to what happened as I was one of those who contested in the 2018 elections. I remember I have been in the shadow almost three and a half years before the election, going with the structure of the party, noting that we had a governor (Fayose) we were not comfortable with then and we wanted our party to win the election at that point in time. But, be that as it may, as I just said, we had a PDP governor in office then. Now we have an APC governor and historically, it seems that when your party is in the office, there are some things that naturally play out that people will look at. Things like where the governor would tilt his support base, which structure would they follow, knowing that our party, APC, believes in leadership.

But I want to quickly say that with what our president has done in the country for now, party structure has been taken away from the national as it seems to be brought back to the people in the local area that is grassroots politicking. If you see the way President Muhammadu Buhari has handled the party and how he plays his politics, it is more of you are acceptable to your people.

So, for me, I have slowed down the pace of what I did the last time within the system. I don’t want to be seen as an aspirant within the same party at loggerheads with the system. Yes, I have declared my aspiration, met with Governor Kayode Fayemi, told him one-on-one, on the 3rd of June 2021, that I would be running for governor. He is person I owe anything, outside, of that, I have spoken with my God, talk to my immediate family and we are ready and prepared this time.

So I don’t want to be seen as rocking the boat or heating the polity, that is why you see me slowing down the way I am, but I can assure you that, three weeks from now, I am going to be in full force for the primary. We all know it is not a child’s play, and I am believing that our amiable governor will make it free and fair. That is what we are praying for and making sure we have a seamless process.

 

Since 1999, no political party has won back to back governorship election in the state and the APC from all indications want to break this political jinx. Is it achievable considering the fact that the aspirants are not on the field at the moment?

I am a politician and I don’t do any other things except politics. I play it.   For me as a person, there is nothing I do aside from that, so I understand what it should be, how it should go. In Ekiti state from 1999, no governor has ever succeeded himself in office, for those who have come back to do a second time, it was broken up at a point and they came back to win election in the state. That means we are trying to break the jinx in the system. Don’t forget, the party supporters are not up to five per cent in Ekiti state. If you look at our voting strength it is just about four hundred thousand or more; since 1999 till date we haven’t changed the geography of the voting strength.

If you look at those playing active politics, they are not up to five per cent. So the voters are close to about 95 per cent and their thinking is about what do we get from the government. So it is not the party or politicians who think this is my political party. Even when we go around doing enumeration of party members, when we gather information of people and put down their names, they put down their names, because they are looking for benefits from the government.

Most of them are not just voters but those doing their businesses, such persons are looking for how policies of government would favour their business. That’s what people look for. That’s why I said clearly, from my own understanding, if the party does well and looks deep at everybody, we will get it right. Mr Governor is educated and he understands that he has loads to carry.  We have all prayed that he becomes the president of this country.

Let me say it crystal clear for those who don’t know, the governor (Fayemi) should have been the vice-president of this country at the moment. The only reason he lost that position is because we lost the state in 2014 to the PDP. If we had won the state, he would have left the state to become the vice-president and another person would have taken over the state. Look at the case of Atiku Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. The president really wanted him but the defeat to the opposition was a great disservice. I want to say it without mincing words that Mr. Governor would not endorse anybody as his successor. He would leave the field open to all who is interested and has the capacity, the vision and a clear mission for the people of the state. Anyone who wants to run for the office of governor, should come out on his own and leave the issue of endorsement. If you wait too long, you may find yourself in that shoe you may not want to be.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Lagos Is Second Least Liveable City In The World For 2021

Lagos is the second least liveable city in the world for the year 2021. This is according to the most recent annual ranking put together by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)…

FACT CHECK: Did UNICEF Say Blocking Children’s Access To Pornography Constitutes Human Rights’ Infringement?

CLAIM 1: A Twitter user claims UNICEF said any efforts to block children from accessing pornography might infringe their human rights.