It was a tumultuous welcome for Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Friday as his campaign train rolled into Efon Alaaye, the headquarters of Efon Local Government Area ahead of the June 21 governorship poll.
At a rally held at the town's square, teachers in public schools, students, market women, community leaders all declared their support for Fayemi's second term and pledged to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the election.
The interest groups in the community who all declared their readiness to back Fayemi for another term in office while affirming their support for the APC maintained that "they would not vote for any party that will put Ekiti State on reverse gear".
Fayemi also campaigned in adjoining settlements including Itawure, Ita Ido and Iwaji where he urged the people to vote for the progressive party which the APC represented.
The governor was accompanied to the rally by his wife, Bisi; former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Wale Omirin; state APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, commissioners, other government officials and party leaders.
He warned the electorate not to allow politicians who misused power, promoted violence, brigandage, looting, impunity and maltreatment of traditional rulers and elders to come back to power.
The governor also stated that the support declared for him by teachers in Efon showed that he has nothing against them as being peddled by the opposition maintaining that teachers had enjoyed salary increment three times since he came to office.
He further added that teachers teaching core subjects and those teaching in rural areas receive special allowance beside their normal salaries.
The governor said there is no part of the state that is not linked with good roads unlike in the past when an opposition candidate constructed a road to his community which collapsed within six months.
Fayemi said: "Our party loves the masses but the other party don't value old men, they don't value old people, they don't take care of the aged and they don't respect the youth.
"Our government will not misbehave if you vote us in and we are different from the party that steals votes to get to power and will never respect anybody.
"During the Adebayo administration that was in power for four years, the state enjoyed peace and harmony and even won an award as the most peaceful state in the country.
"But the next seven and half years of this other party in power, it was looting, fraud, violence, killing, impunity and brigandage. But in our government, we respect the dignity of human person, we have experienced peace, progress and development.
"Ask our students what Ekiti State University looked like in 2010 and what it looks like now. Ask our students in College of Education, Ikere looked like in 2010 and how it looks like now.
"If they don't kill councillorship candidate in Ifaki, they will kill College of Education students in Ikere. Tell them we fear no one because we believe in God. We will not start any fight but we are not scared of fighting.
The governor had earlier visited the palace of the Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare who said all the achievements recorded in the last three and half years will speak for Fayemi at the election adding that he has said it before and he would say it again that Fayemi will triumph.
Enthusiastic indigenes of Efon who had been waiting for governor on the outskirts of the town welcomed him with pomp and pageantry and ushered the state number one citizen into the palace of the monarch.
Locals all shouted the slogan of the APC as the train moved across the town until the governor arrived the campaign ground. Other residents who could not make it to the campaign ground climbed tall buildings to get a better view of the event.
The teachers in Efon who were led to the rally by Mr. Olusegun Ojo Israel said they are supporting Fayemi for his love for teachers and for giving them various incentives contrary to the opposition's claim that the governor hates teachers.
"We are supporting our governor because he is a good leader and has performed well in office.
"He is compassionate, brilliant, intelligent, articulate. He has made life easier for us, we are going with him and we are going to vote for him", Israel said.
The president of Federation of Efon Students Union (FESU), Odunayo Olowoyeye, described Fayemi as " fulfiller of promises" who has turned around the fortunes of the state.
He praised the governor for his commitment to the education sector which has boosted the image of Ekiti within and outside the state.
Olowoyeye added: "On behalf of the 3, 500 students in Efon Local Government Area, I promise you that we will all vote for you and at the end of the election, we will all rejoice".
The Iyaloja of Efon, Mrs. Asunke Ojo, said all market women in the town and its environs are casting their votes for Fayemi at the poll for taking care of the old women and the youths.
Mrs. Ojo said the people of the community have felt the impact of the Fayemi administration more than the previous administrations, urging voters to cast their votes for the governor.
The Obaloja of Efon, Chief Bode Thomas, who spoke on behalf of the traditional institution at the rally said Ekiti has enjoyed peace since Fayemi came to power and the people want the peace to continue.
He said Fayemi has done a lot for Efon and the entire community is praying for the success of the governor at the election.
"By the grace of God, your second term is already assured and any party that will put Ekiti on reverse gear will not come to power again", Thomas prayed.
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