A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, has rejoiced with ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi on his 60th birthday, eulogising the All Progressives Congress leader for striking the right chord and entrenched unbroken continuity of progressive governance in Ekiti.
Faparusi, an ex- Ekiti Commissioner, said Fayemi’s unceasing struggles, especially the unrepentant pursuit of continuity agenda, he realised with the victory of Governor Oyebanji in 2022, largely contributed to the faster pace of development and political stability being savoured in Ekiti today.
The All Progressives Congress Chieftain, said this in his congratulatory message to former Governor Fayemi, who clocks 60, on February 9, 2025.
In his tribute, where he profoundly praised the former governor for his iconic leadership style and shrewd political experience, Faparusi added that a vivid dissection of Fayemi’s trajectory of political struggles and participations in Ekiti exemplified him as a leader to emulate and venerate at all times.
Faparusi was enthralled with how Fayemi wielded his political mastery and ingenuity to galvanise the potentials of the progressives in 2006 to be able to regain power after three and half years in 2010, thereby allowing the then Action Congress of Nigeria to regain its roots in Ekiti politics.
However, he saluted Governor Oyebanji for sustaining the legacy of continuity left by Fayemi beyond expectations, saying the governor had succeeded in shaming his critics with superlative performance and uncommon humility.
Faparusi added that Fayemi’s legacy could have been dangerously blighted, if Oyebanji had failed in leadership, lauding the governor for keeping the flag of progressives at higher and soaring pedestal with his policies touching the lives of the commoners.
Exhilaratingly, Faparusi said the mantra of continuity agenda that Fayemi championed in 2022, at the twilight of his second term tenure, led to Governor Oyebanji’s emergence and that this has borne the right fruits suggesting that the former governor succeeded in giving Ekiti the right successor.
He said the fact that Fayemi was able to foster good and hitch-free working relationships with former Governor Niyi Adebayo and the incumbent governor to ward off centrifugal forces in the progressive fold, signposted the humane leadership qualities inherent in the former Minister.
“Let me on behalf of my family and political followers all over the state felicitate former Governor John Kayode Fayemi for clocking this golden age of 60.
“This celebration is not really about him attaining this age, but about his accomplishments as an academic colossus, iconic politician and a development and security expert of global repute. At every stage of his life, he had proven to be a great leader, democrat, mentor, researcher and motivational speaker.
“The most memorable of his political exploit was the struggle he championed and the war he waged for the progressives to be relaunched to gain political reckoning in Ekiti State in 2007. He was unwavering and relentless in this battle and actualised it after three and half years of turmoil.
“He neither wearied nor faltered after losing in 2014. He relaunched himself back to limelight in 2018 to consolidate democratic gains for the people. He mentored and promoted people to political stardom, because he never believed nor succumbed to the horrendous theory of obscurantism.
“At both first and second terms, he instituted several landmark projects, policies and programmes to stabilise Ekiti. Among them were the Ekiti Civic Centre, Ekitiparapo Pavilion, Oke Ayoba Governor’s Lodge, Ikun Dairy Farm, Youth in Commercial Agriculture, Women empowerment programmes and political emancipation, several road projects, among others.
“Most stunning was his mastery of politics, which enables him to establish stable cord of relationships with his political leader, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and his successor, Governor Biodun Oyebanji. This trend is uncommon in the Nigerian politics considering what is happening in Rivers, Kaduna and some other states of the federation between the past governors and their successors.
“I rejoice with our enigmatic leader on this momentous occasion and wish him more rewarding and blissful future ahead of him”.