Ekiti People Still Want Me As Governor – Segun Oni

By Ayodele Oni

Governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party, (SDP) in Ekiti state, Chief Segun Oni has said that the people of the state want him back as Governor because his successors have failed them.

Chief Oni’s first term as Governor was terminated by a Court of Appeal judgement which nullified his election and declared Dr Kayode Fayemi of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) winner.

After he lost his bid to become the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in June election, Oni moved to the SDP, a new party in Ekiti state and become the candidate.

There has been a mass movement of his supporters from the PDP and ruling All Progressive t, (APC) to SDP to identify with the aspiration of the former Governor.

Speaking at the weekend in a television programme, Oni pointed out that “the people can judge the level of the service I gave them and the same people are yearning for my coming back after tasting three administrations.

“Everybody will answer is name based on their reputation and stewardship of service.

Nobody has constructed the number of roads I constructed in the last 12 years after my exit

“Life was more tolerable for Ekiti people as the economy was booming against what it is today.

“When I was leaving, nobody lifted a hand that I was unfairly treated. When Ekiti People experienced governance under the two former governors and compared it to what I gave as service, their love for my coming back increases.

“I will not access any government on finances, whatever they give to the people should be accessed by the people, and that the people have done by not keeping quiet.

“Ekiti was not financially buoyant when I was in government as it is now and we managed what we had. Despite this, we were 24 in GDP per Capita in the human development report and 10th in the overall human development index. At that time, Ekiti had the highest life expectancy rate where there was no UCH.

“My indication of about basic education is how should a student be rated in WAEC or NECO. We were 34 when I came in and rose to number 8 before leaving.

‘I have a background in the private sector so I knew what it took us to satisfy the people back then. What they experienced when I was the governor is what they want to enjoy again which is good governance. This is why the Ekiti people are saying Ekiti Koya o’toge to bad governance in the last three administrations.”

On neutrality of the election umpire during the June election,  Chief Oni expressed the hope that “INEC will count the vote and declare based on who has the highest vote.

“It is not likely INEC compromise if it is free and fair. I’m doing this because I was to contribute my service to making Ekiti People smile again after a long time of suffering.”