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By Sunshine Anifowose

The name Peter Ayodele Fayose might mean different thing to different people depending which angle the individual dissecting the bearer is reasoning from. But to a political neophyte or an ordinary people who truly know the man Ayodele Fayose, fondly called Oshokomole by his admirers, he would, without thinking twice, describe the man “Fayose” as a lovable and charismatic politician who commands an accultic followership among the commoners and the ordinary people. Fayose’s style of politics and politiking undoubtedly still remain a course every aspiring Nigerian politicians must study and pass should they want to become a successful politician leaving an indelible track records and legacies behind.

Born in November 15th, 1960 to the Family of Pastor Oluwafemi and Prophetess Victoria Olufunke Oluwayose, Fayose, a native of Afao Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State started his early education at saint Leo’s Catholic Primary School, Ibadan in 1966 and obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1972. After his Primary education, he proceeded to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo; in 1973 where he obtained his West African School Certificate, WASC in the year 1979. His quest for higher education led him to the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State where he bagged a National Diploma (ND) in Science Laboratory Technology which he successfully completed in 1984. He did his one year industrial attachment at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, where he proved his worth as a budding Scientist by transforming various herbs into chemical substance which were later used to produce different types of body and hair creams. The experiments and the products were consequently christened “Sportless.” In 1985, Ayodele Fayose was admitted into The Polytechnic Ibadan for a Higher National Diploma (HND) programme in Biological Sciences/Applied Medical Biology and graduated in 1987. While undergoing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Pepsi Nigeria Limited in Ibadan, the energetic and ever courageous Fayose was engaged in installation, maintenance and servicing of medical and laboratory equipments.

Ayodele Fayose made his first debut in Politics in the year 2003 when he contested for the Governor of Ekiti State. A State that has over the years prior its creation in 1996 remained a remote State with no development not until the game changer and charismatic Ayodele Fayose became Governor in 2003. This was even after the State had produced its first democratically elected Governor, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, who presided over the affairs of the State between 1999 to 2003 whom Fayose defeated in the 2003 Governorship polls.

The basic social infrastructure required to make a state have a beffitng look were nothing to write home about, not until Oshokomole came to open up the State by laying the infrastructural foundation for the state. His unprecedented achievements cut across areas of good roads, public buildings, water, electricity, social facility and other amenities. No wonder the phrase “Architect of Modern Ekiti.” was given to him by the ordinary people of the state.

Fayose’s achievement barely nine months into his first term administration no doubt must have birthed the decision of the authorities of the University of Ado-Ekiti (Now Ekiti State University) to conferred him with the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Administration. During his first term as Ekiti Governor, apart from the regular and timely payment of salaries of Civil Servants whom in the past has been victims of circumstance in retrospect having being owned 18 months backlogs of Salaries and arrears by his predecesor Adeniyi Adebayo of which Fayose cleared, Fayose within the available limited fund was still able to achieve the below; just to mention but a few: Dualisation of Ado Township Roads, Dualisation of Ado/Ikere road
Construction of the Governor’s office, Construction of Fountain Hotel, Construction of modern market at Ajilosun (Fayose market), Distribution of buses to various institution in the State,
Construction of boreholes in places in need of such, Free health care services at the general hospitals, e.t.c.

Though, Fayose was unable to complete his tenure in his first coming having being unjustly impeached in 2006, but his gregariousness to all and sundry irrespective of class and nature which has no doubt been one of his selling points made him to be so loved by his people and thus; the popular nickname “Man of the massess”. He came back 8years after to defeat another incumbent Kayode Fayemi in the 2014 Governorship polls making him to have a record of a Governor who successfully defeated two incumbent at two different attempts.

In spite of the inherited bad economic situation of the states when he took over from Fayemi in 2014, Fayose was still able to accomplish the followings; some of which are: Dualisation of Ikere Township Road, Dualisation of Ise Township Road, Dualisation of IJero Township Road
Dualisation of Efon Alaaye Township Road and 7 other local Government Headquaters (Making it a totalof 12). He also dualised Awedele-Basiri route with a bridge, Construction of another Governor’s Office, Contruction of Ekiti State High Court, Construction of the neglected Adehun to Onala route in Ado-Ekiti, Construction of the main popular market (Oja Oba), Construction of flyover bridge at Fajuyi (The first of its kind in Ekiti), Construction of Funmi Olayinka Women Center (Named after the late former Deputy Governor of the state), Construction of other communities and villages route in the State to help ease the transportation of farm produce, regular and prompt payment of Salaries, Arrears and Gratuities, e.t.c..

Governor Fayose’s gaint stride in the Education sector also ranked Ekiti from 35th position in NECO when he assumed office in 2014 to first position in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Ayodele Fayose is a leader who come down from his high horse without minding the position he occupies, he interacts with the commoners, feels their immediate challenges and won’t waste time in deploying strategies in ameliorating those needs. In Ekiti and Nigeria of today, Fayose’s name will forever remain a scarecrow for some and will continue to be a gentle guide to others even as he continues to remain a beacon of hope for every Nigerian who had been brought up without a silver spoon. The man of the masses, political wizard, charismatic leader, bastion of inspiration and true Architect of Modern Ekiti who has proven Nigerians beyond reasonable doubt that Degrees from pricey institutions alone isn’t a yardstick or determining factor for effective political leadership turned 60 today.

Happy 60th Birthday to a man who carries the abundant grace of God.