Laughter Erupts As Fayose Embraces Fayemi At A Public Event
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state and his predecessor Ayodele Fayose put their differences aside on Wednesday, March 6, when they embraced each other at a ceremony in Lagos in honour of a legal luminary, Afe Babalola (SAN).
Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, was honoured with the 2018 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
Fayemi delivered a speech and approached his seat, Fayose stood to greet him. The governor opened his arms and embraced his predecessor.
Among those that attended the event were former head of state and ex-secretary general of Commonwealth, Yakubu Gowon and Emeka Anyaoku, respectively. Prominent traditional rulers and politicians also graced the occasion.
Fayemi and Fayose are political rivals, who have in recent times engaged in war of words over policies, electoral victory and Ekiti state politics generally.
At the event, Fayemi said: “I am immensely proud that baba (Afe Babalola) is from Ekiti. You have restored our values for us. With you around, at least no one can accuse us of being the state of stomach infrastructure. They will definitely regard us as the fountain of knowledge.”
The governor’s statement was a veiled reference to Fayose’s “stomach infrastructure” policy. But the former governor ignored the criticism and displayed a rare show of love.
Both current and former governors raised their hands in solidarity as clap and laughter erupted in the hall.