Governor Kayode Fayemi ,candidate of the All Progressives Congress ,APC has in a move that is very rare among Nigerian politicians accepted his defeat in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.
Results of the election announced by the Independent Electoral Commission ,INEC said Mr Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP won, while Fayemi came second.
In his concession speech on Sunday,Fayemi said “If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice”.
Fayemi said further, “ I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme”.
His message has already been drawing words of commendation.”The congratulatory message of Governor Fayemi to Mr. Fayose shows that the election was credible and generally acceptable”,former Governor of Abia State ,Orji Kalu said in a statement adding,”The election is a testimony that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria”.
Kalu acknowledged the political maturity and display of sportsmanship by the duo of Fayemi, and Bamidele Opeyemi(of Labour Party) after the declaration of Fayose as the winner.
Read Fayemi’s historic concession speech below:
If This Is the Will of the People
Concession Speech
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Following the
2014 Gubernatorial Elections
Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Protocols
In o kun o Ekiti kete.
Yesterday, Ekiti State decided.
Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heedyour voice.
I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would 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 unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies 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 nooks and crannies 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. 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.
I thank you all for listening.
May God bless the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Governor, Ekiti State
Sunday, June 22, 2014
