Ekiti 2022: Crisis Hits South Lobby Group As Coordinator Resigns

By Ayodele Oni

There is a crack in Ekiti South Development Agenda, a group which has been agitating for the election of a Governor from Ekiti South axis of the State  in June. The idea may be forced  into extinction.

The Group, was formed last year, and has been canvassing for an Indigene of the Southern Senatorial  District to be Governor of the State for the first time.

But, the Coordinator of the Group, Mr Idowu Afuye, has just  announced his resignation as Chairman, as well as his withdrawal from its membership at the weekend.

Afuye did not give reasons for his action, but it was gathered that the outcome of the Governorship Primaries of the two leading political parties, which did not produce an indigene from the area, and the decision by prominent politicians from the area to   join forces with their victorious colleagues may be the reasons for his action.

The former Coordinator explained that he tried his best at actualising the Ekiti South Agenda, by transversing the nooks and crannies of the Country to seek support for its actualization.

According to him, his greatest regret  was that the lack of unity and selfishness of stakeholders and politician from the area frustrated the agenda.

He said the agitation took him and his crew to the likes of Prof Banji Akintoye, the Ooni of lfe, Chief Afe Babalola among other eminent Nigerians.

“The Group thought Dr Kayode Fayemi  will keep to his promise of handing over to an Ekiti South person after his tenure. Added to that failure on Fayemi’s part, the Group also suffered another height of dissapointment from the opposition P.D.P which edged out all Ekiti South contestants in its primary.”

Afuye pointed out that since that has happened, he cannot continue to chase shadows. He, thus, decided to move on saying in no distant time, his next line of action will be unveiled.

It was learnt at the weekend that some of the aspirants in PDP and APC who lost out in the Governorship primary have been reaching out to be running mates, defying curses placed on indigenes from the area who would lobby to be Deputy Governor.

Some were reported to have held meetings with the former Governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni who also lost out in the PDP Primary but now a flagbearer of All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) to work with him.

In one of the meetings the group held with a legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, he told them that the lack of unity and selfishness are some of the factors which have been blocking the emergence of any  indigene of the Southern extraction from becoming the Governor of Ekiti state, 25 years after its creation.

One of the Governorship candidates that will contest in the  June election, Dr Wole Oluyede, on the ticket of  Action Democratic Congress, (ADC) is, however, from the Southern Senatorial District. But the Party is seen not to be strong enough to make any impact.

The race is, clearly, between  the ruling APC, and main opposition Party, PDP.

Yet, time will tell.