By Ayodele Oni
Ondo state Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, received a brotherly advice from former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, at the weekend during his visit to Fayose’s Ekiti country home.
Fayose, still savouring the joy of his 60th birthday, told the embattled Deputy Governor to return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Ajayi, whose tenure as a Deputy Governor terminates in February next year, contested the October 10 Governorship election in Ondo state and came a distance third. He ran under the banner of the ZLP.
He had dumped the All Progressives Congress, (APC), a party that made him deputy to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, joined the PDP which he left, after losing the Governorship primary to Mr Eyitayo Jegede, and teamed up with ZLP.
With his unimpressive outing at the election, there is a cloud over his future as regards the politics of Ondo state as his current ZLP has no national spread.
But former Governor Fayose has decided to chart a future for Ajayi as he advised that “it is important for him (Agboola Ajayi) to put the past behind, return to PDP, and join hands with other leaders in the State to rebuild the party.”
Describing Ajayi as a force to be reckoned with in the politics of Ondo State, Fayose added that he would thrive better politically in a mainstream and liberal political party like the PDP.
“What I can tell you like a brother is that the past should be put behind you and the future should be focused on realistically.
“The best option before you now is to return to the PDP and I am encouraging you to give it a consideration because you need the party and the party too needs a strong political character like you,” Fayose said.
Responding, the Deputy Governor commended Fayose for his credible leadership in the Southwest and the country as a whole.
He described Fayose as a clear-minded personality, who will say his mind not minding whose ox is gored.
“I have come to Afao Ekiti at this hour of the day to wish a friend, brother and leader a happy birthday at 60.
“Fayose is one person I have great respect for and I will continue to relate with him because he is not someone who will not tell you A when he means B. His yes is yes and when he says no, he means no,” Ajayi said.
