Ekiti State: Fayemi out, Fayose in

Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, is agog as the inauguration of Ayodele Peter Fayose as the governor of the state begins. At the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Fayose Campaign headquarters in the Government Reservation Area, and the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the supporters of the governor-elect were seen readying themselves ahead of the ceremony.

A correspondent from Punch also noted that a well-decorated stage had been created at the centre of the stadium. The stage faces the equally well-decorated state box.

Fayose visited the stadium in company with security agency chiefs to inspect the extent of preparation for the ceremony which will be graced by either President Goodluck Jonathan or Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the national leadership of PDP.

Artisans, okada riders, market men and women as well as commercial motorists and motorcyclists were seen buying different colours of uniforms at the Fayose campaign headquarters for the inauguration.

The governor-elect, it was gathered, had distributed cows and money to various groups in the state to enable them to celebrate his second coming as the state governor.

As of 4pm on Wednesday, the Government House was solemn as Punch learnt that Fayemi, his family and aides moved out their personal belongings around noon.

Fayemi, who lifted the curfew he imposed on the state following an outbreak of violence, was said to have left for his Isan-Ekiti home town in the Oye Local Government Area of the state.

Fayose had in a live television interview on Tuesday said he had invited all the clerics in the state to join him in cleansing the Government House.

He said, “I am expecting all pastors; they would first be at the new State House to carry out a thorough spiritual cleansing before we enter the building on Thursday (today) after the inauguration.

“Even if they are up to 1,000, they should all come for the spiritual cleansing before we enter the building. But any pastor who isn’t sure of his calling shouldn’t come.”