It’s a pity Fayose can’t choose a successor – Faparusi

Former member of the House of
Representatives, Engr. Bamidele Faparusi is one
of the aspirants for the ticket of the All
Progressives Congress, APC in the forthcoming
governorship election.
In this interview he speaks on alleged foibles of
the incumbent governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose
and his readiness for the contest. Excerpts:
What is your assessment of Governor Fayose’s
political standing in Ekiti?
As we talk now, Fayose does not have a
political party. The faction of PDP he belongs
to has been nullified by the court in Ekiti State.
The faction which he has been working against
has been declared as the authentic and
constitutionally recognized faction of the party.
So, Fayose does not have control over the
structure of his own party in Ekiti State. The
PDP in Ekiti does not recognise him. And I am
looking up to the time the state chapter of the
party will summon the courage to expel him
from the party.
That shows the level of leadership he has
provided. He cannot manage the affairs of his
party; he divided the party at state level. So,
tell me how a fellow like Fayose with poor
leadership quality can manage the affairs of the
entire Ekiti State satisfactorily. It is quite
unfortunate that we have to manage this
misadventure till 2018.
I do not know which political party he is going
to join next, because he does not have any
voice in PDP again both at the national and the
state level. I call on the PDP in Ekiti state to
expel him formally to save their drowning party.
He is a party less governor already.
He is just parading himself as the Chairman of
PDP Governors Forum when he has no control
over the party structures. He was part of the
confused PDP stakeholders that dragged
Senator Modu Sheriff from his bedroom in
Maiduguri into this needless PDP crisis.
What is your assessment of the governor’s
succession plans?
Even though Fayose is not going to seek re-
election, anybody he presents will fail woefully
because he does not have quality people
around him. All of his political associates are
mediocre. They are all mediocre. Ekiti people
would not allow mediocre to rule them again.
How prepared are you to tackle the Fayose
factor in Ekiti?
The Fayose factor in Ekiti politics today is not
positive, it is negative and an opportunity for
the APC to take over the helms of affairs in
Ekiti comes 2018.
He has performed woefully. He deceived the
people and the people have now seen that he
is a master deceiver. All we need to do is to
continue to enlighten our people on the danger
of allowing Fayose to succeed himself through
the backdoor.
Ekiti people have seen clearly that he has no
plans for the future of the state and having him
as the governor of the state is quite
unfortunate. We are very hopeful that when the
time comes for the people of the state to
decide again, they would decide in favour of the
APC.
Are you contesting the 2018 governorship
election?
I have yielded to the call of my people to run
for governorship seat of Ekiti State come 2018.
It is a clarion call that I cannot afford to deny
them. Haven served them for four years at the
National Assembly; they are satisfied with my
performance and the passionate interest I have
for the development of the state and its people.
So, asking me to run this time is a clarion call
I have yielded to.
What qualifies you for the contest?
I served the good people of Gboyin/ Emure/
Ekiti East Federal Constituency for four years
between May, 2011- May, 2015 in the House of
Representatives, Abuja where I served
meritoriously in various committees. I was able
to deliver dividends of democracy to my
constituency, hence their call on me to serve
them in a higher capacity.
I was quite surprised during my consultation
across the state that people expressed their
satisfaction about my performance while in the
National Assembly. People across the state laid
credence to the fact that they heard my
performance was excellent.
What is the place of zoning in the forthcoming
contest?
I want to say that zoning is very essential for
peace, unity and the progress of the state. So,
Ekiti south senatorial district has not had the
opportunity to govern the state since the return
to civil rule in 1999. We want to believe that it
is a valid call that the seat be conceded to the
zone. Fortunately for us, all the stakeholders
in Ekiti politics have been calling on all
politicians across the state to concede the
governorship position to Ekiti South senatorial
district. Also, stakeholders in APC like the
Elders Forum of the party have resolved to
support any credible candidate from the
Southern Senatorial District.
Do you envisage the Ondo debacle happening
in Ekiti?
There can never be a perfect democratic
system anywhere in the world. Therefore, there
can never be perfect primaries. Anything can
happen but we are hopeful that what nothing
that will divide APC in Ekiti would be allowed
to happen.
If there is no preferential candidate from the
leadership of the party and if the votes of the
people are allowed to count, I am sure the kind
of crisis we had in Ondo would not occur in
Ekiti.