By Correspondent in Ado-Ekiti.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the Wiife of Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has been reportedly anointed a successor to take over from her husband in 2022.
Rumour was rife in the state recently that Governor Fayemi had anointed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Biodun Oyebanji, as his candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2022 governorship election in the state.
A group, “Agents of Good Governance”, alleged as contained in a letter of protest, signed by its chairman and secretary, Messrs Femi Awolumate and Abdullahi Lawal, also stated the governor had a particular person in mind for the governorship seat.
However, it was learnt that the idea of anointing the SSG and imposing him as the APC candidate for the election did not come from Governor Fayemi, but his wife, Bisi.
A source very close to the governor’s wife, further said she had also been propping up the wife of the SSG for about three months now, teaching her how to act and behave as the wife of the next governor of the state.
“I can authoritatively tell you that the rumour is true, that there is an anointed APC candidate for the 2022 governorship election. However, it is not true that Governor Kayode Fayemi is the brain behind the idea.
“The desire to impose the SSG on the APC as the next governor of Ekiti State is the brainchild of the wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
“This is no secret; it is an information that is known to several top civil servants in the state and many close aides of Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
“The wife of the governor has, for about three months now, been propping up the wife of the SSG, Professor Olayemi Jumoke Oyebanji, teaching her the mannerism and public attitude expected of the wife of a governor.
“This wife of the SSG, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, has been following Erelu Bisi Fayemi to all engagements, undergoing tutorial on the expected next levels.
“Instances abound, but a recent example was when a member of the state House of Assembly, Princess Teju Okuyiga, did an empowerment programme for women in her constituency. The governor’s wife brought the wife of the SSG from Ibadan to attend the event.
“A strong financial base has also been built toward the realisation of the mission of the wife of the governor to have an anointed candidate, in respect of the SSG’s wife, for the 2022 election.
“There are lots of information on the choice of the SSG as the anointed candidate of Erelu Bisi Fayemi for the governorship seat in 2022. More of these information would be made public in due course,” the source disclosed.
Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayemi, Mr Yinka Oyebode, however, debunked the allegation, saying that it could only come from people who engage and dwell in gutter and dustbin politics.
He said the rumour of anointing a candidate to take over from Governor Fayemi in 2022 could only emanate from paperweight politicians who had no electoral value and were afraid of their own shadows.
“There is nothing of such. There is no money being kept somewhere to sponsor anybody. The allegation can only come from people engaging and dwelling in gutter and dustbin politics.
“The date for the Ekiti APC primary has been set. Why should anybody bring up the issue of an anointed candidate. What are they afraid of
“There have been constant assurances from the party heirarchy, in this state, of a level playing field for the primary. Why are they afraid of their shadows. The issue of somebody anointing a particular candidate is a figment of their imagination,” he said.
“In respect of the allegation of money being saved somewhere to sponsor somebody, it is a figment of their imagination. There is nothing of such happening.
“We are here in Ekiti State, where nothing of such can happen. There is no money kept anywhere for the purpose of sponsoring any imaginary anointed candidate,” Oyebode stressed.
