The Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party’s Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju, has stated that former Governor Ayo Fayose cannot continue to run a one-man show in the party.
During an interview with The PUNCH, Adeyanju said that the party rejected Fayose’s leadership style because they wanted all members to be involved in the activities of running the Party.
“In the past, the slogan was “leader-general,” and we were always looking up to him (Fayose) for initiatives. He was the sole commander of the party, and the other leaders and elders played passive roles in whatever happened,” he stated.
He also explained that the former governor did not allow committees set up for various functions to thrive in the party hence the party could not get the much-needed input from its members.
“For the governorship, it was Fayose that nominated Bisi Kolawole, and we supported him. He also wanted to nominate the deputy governorship candidate, but most party leaders disagreed. He felt bitter and started having issues with everybody, including the governorship candidate.
“We only managed the crisis. What we are saying is that the party is not about anybody but all of us. The way we conducted the governorship campaign with the overbearing presence of Fayose did not help us.
“The real candidate was not speaking. Ekiti people are intelligent. They love Fayose because he performed when he was in office, but they don’t want you to impose a weakling. I am not saying Bisi Kolawole is a weakling, but the system did not project him as somebody who was in charge.
“The system projected him as somebody who would be a puppet. It would have helped the party if the system had allowed Kolawole, the candidate, to present himself as a very bold person, but that did not happen.
“Again, the campaign committees set up did not work. It was Fayose who dominated the arena. If the committees had been allowed to work, there would have been initiatives and suggestions that would have helped the party. These are the things we are out to correct to strengthen the party and return it to winning ways.” he added.
