Director, Nike Centre for Arts and Culture, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaiye (left), with Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion, at the 2014 Ogidi-Ela Day in Kogi State, last Saturday.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose won 203,090 votes against 120,433 votes recorded by Governor Kayode Fayemi to become the next governor of the state.
Declaring the result in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that Fayose won in all the 16 local councils in the state.
In a quick reaction yesterday, the governor-elect of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose, dedicated his victory to the people of the state.
Fayose said in Ado-Ekiti that his victory reflected the wishes of the people of the state.
The governor-elect, who spoke through his Chief Press Officer, Mr Idowu Adelusi, described the election that produced him as free, fair and credible.
He promised to improve the living standard of the people by providing job opportunities and making education affordable.
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has congratulated the governor-elect and candidate of the PDP, Ayodele Peter Fayose over his victory at the polls.
Addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, Fayemi said if the outcome of Saturday’s election was the wish of the people, “so be it.”
He said, “Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.
“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
“It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavoury episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother.
“Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together”.
He added: “On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this state.
“Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
“Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
“To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course.
“The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.”
The Labour Party candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has also expressed appreciation to indigenes of the state for their support.
Bamidele said in a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti that the election conducted by INEC was a true reflection of the people’s wishes.
He commended  INEC and all security agencies involved in the electoral process for their roles, saying they all ensured that the people of the state contributed to the  nation’s democratic process.
The Labour Party candidate particularly thanked his supporters in Iyin Ekiti,  his hometown, saying their support ensured he triumphed in the community inspite of the party being only five months old in the state.
Bamidele,  who got 18,135 votes came third out of  the 18 candidates  who participated in the election.
In his reaction, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan urged the governor-elect of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose to see his electoral victory as a sacred mandate from God and an opportunity to serve his people for the second time.
He, therefore, urged him “to be humble and magnanimous in victory and commit himself to forming an administration that will work for the advancement of the interests of all Ekiti people irrespective of their political affiliations or loyalties.”
Jonathan gave the advice in a message of congratulations to the Governor elect. The message was signed by Dr. Reuben Abati, the presidential adviser on media.
President Jonathan commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Services and the people of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the elections “in keeping with the present administration’s avowed commitment to ensuring that elections in all parts of Nigeria are progressively freer, fairer and more credible”.
The President also gave an assurance to Mr. Fayose that the Federal Government will give all necessary support and assistance to his incoming administration and cooperate fully with him in furtherance of the present administration’s objective of significantly improving the living conditions of Nigerians in all parts of the country.
Similarly, the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), yesterday congratulated the governor-elect of Ekiti, Mr Ayo Fayose.
Afenifere spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said that the election of Fayose reflected the people’s choice.
“The Ekiti people have spoken and we congratulate the governor elect, “Odumakin said.
Odumakin, however, urged the governor-elect to utilise the opportunity of his re-election to correct any mistakes he may have made during his first term.
“He should come to office with better maturity and make life better for the Ekiti people, “ the Afenifere spokesman said.
He further urged Fayose to govern with the fear of God and justify the trust reposed in him by his people.
The South West Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Austin Nnorom, also urged Fayemi to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.
He urged the people of Osun to emulate the conduct of Ekiti people by making sure that their votes counted.
In a related development, the Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) has urged the  governor-elect to ensure that the interests of the Ndigbo community in the state were taken into consideration.
The group, in a congratulatory message signed by its President, Chief  Udoka Udeogaranya, said promoting a spirit of  inclusion would enable non-indigenes contribute their quota to the development of the state.