Asking my opponents for forgiveness does not mean i'm a coward – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said his asking for forgiveness should not be taken for cowardice by his opponents, saying his survival in office will be determined by God.

He said he took the steps to seek a genuine reconciliation with the All Progressives Congress whose 19 lawmakers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly plotting his impeachment in the interest of the state.



The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised for him at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to celebrate his recent electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected lawmakers in Ekiti State have admonished the lawmakers to stop fanning the embers of chaos in the state, saying Ekiti people won’t allow the outgoing legislators to destroy the state before leaving office.

In a reaction, the APC lawmakers advised Fayose to stop inciting the people, saying his Sunday broadcast had demonstrated he was not committed to genuine reconciliation.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace. Waiving the olive branch does not mean cowardice, it is for peace.

“Conspiracy is against God’s will. What better way could one seeks peace other than asking for forgiveness.”

The governor advised the APC to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat and saved Nigeria from the brisk of disintegration.
“When I contested Senatorial election, they said I lost and I did not fight anyone. I did not go to the tribunal and I was saying good things about the government then. The opposition should be courageous enough to accept defeat. I follow Jonathan in and out of office. Jonathan gave up on the survival of Nigeria. Jonathan prevented the prophecy that Nigeria would break in 2015.

“I’m enjoying the mandate of God through his people that cannot be controverted. My sin is because I allowed common man to breathe the air of hope.

“The people have spoken (governorship election), they said it was military intervention. They spoke the second term (presidential election), is that one photochromic? And they spoke again the third time (House of Assembly election).

“If God that gave me victory cannot defend me, I better go home. If the people cannot defend the mandate they gave to me, I better go home. Power doesn’t come from man. Power belongs to God. Anyone against the voice of God is following Satan’s way.”