Fayemi: How opponents branded me ‘Tokunbo’ in 2010 guber race

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Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has recalled how his political opponents attempted to portray him as an outsider during his campaign for the governorship of the state in 2010.

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Fayemi disclosed this in a book titled How To Win Elections in Nigeria, authored by Seun Oloketuyi, media entrepreneur and convener of the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards.

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Fayemi, who served as governor for two non-consecutive terms, said his opponents described him as a “Tokunbo” or “Atohunrinwa” politician because of his extensive political activities outside Ekiti.

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He, however, said his academic credentials, political networks and grassroots campaign helped him overcome the narrative and secure victory.

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Fayemi said there was no universal political structure for winning elections, stressing that candidates must understand the peculiarities of the state where they seek elective office.

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According to him, aspiring candidates must also secure the support of influential party leaders, including governors, elected office holders, political appointees, ministers and party executives.

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He recalled that he was invited to contest the Ekiti governorship election by former governor Niyi Adebayo, who was then influential within the party and controlled a significant part of its political structure in the state.

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Despite the backing, Fayemi said he and his campaign team embarked on extensive grassroots mobilisation, visiting each of the state’s 177 wards at least three times and meeting key political leaders individually.

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He said the challenges he encountered during the 2010 election were relatively less difficult than those he faced when he returned in 2018 to seek a second term.

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Fayemi stressed that knowledge of a state’s political history and dynamics was essential to winning elections, noting that Ekiti’s largely monolingual population and shared cultural values made its political environment distinctive.

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“At the point I entered politics, state politics had assumed a violent edge and become toxic,” Fayemi recalled.

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He said the political opposition in the state was searching for a candidate capable of challenging the then administration, following the defeat of the progressives in the 2003 election.

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Fayemi said his campaign consequently highlighted his academic credentials, including his PhD in War Studies, as well as his international and civil society experience and involvement in the pro-democracy struggle through NADECO and Radio Kudirat.

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He added that his profile was further strengthened by reports about him in The New York Times and The Economist.

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According to Fayemi, the support he received from Ekiti’s intellectual community gave him broad appeal among the aspirants, particularly because of the state’s reputation as an intellectual centre.

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“Even though my opponents tried to dismiss me as a ‘Tokunbo’ or ‘Atohunrinwa’ (an outsider politician), having bold conviction and strong external networks carried the day,” he said.

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Fayemi said the strategy was complemented by an extensive grassroots campaign and an eight-point agenda focused on welfare and development.

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He, however, noted that the approach that worked in Ekiti might not necessarily produce the same result in another state.

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On his 2018 re-election bid, Fayemi said he adopted a different strategy by highlighting his relationship with the federal government and his record during his first term.

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“I emphasised my proximity to the centre and governance track record during my first four years in office, especially in light of the excruciating suffering of the citizens during the period my successor was in charge,” he said.

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‘You Must Own Your Narrative’

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Fayemi said the emergence of a 24-hour news cycle had made political communication more difficult, stressing that politicians must take control of the narratives surrounding their campaigns.

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“In my experience, you must own your narrative,” he said.

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He added: “In politics, your work does not speak for you, no matter how well you have performed. You have to constantly communicate with your various audiences: the intellectual elite, social media spaces, and traditional grassroots publics.”

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The former governor also identified what he described as five “election gods” that political aspirants must satisfy, even when they enjoy the support of voters.

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He listed them as the electoral management body, security institutions, the judiciary, non-state security actors and the financial resources required to manage and coordinate election-related activities.

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Fayemi further said candidates needed to maintain relationships with smaller political parties and their agents, while also cultivating relationships with independent observer missions in anticipation of possible post-election disputes. “These are non-negotiable,” he said.

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