Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, caused a stir at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Ekiti on Tuesday when he urged electorates to vote incumbent Governor Ayodele Fayose in the July 14 governorship election.
Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not contesting the election.
Ngige was in Ekiti to campaign for Dr Kayode Fayemi of the APC who is seeking to return as governor four years after losing to Fayose
“If you marry two wives, you go know which one wey better. Fayose is the better wife. E dey cook, e dey give husband better food. Bring back Fayose on Saturday,” Ngige said in the speech delivered in Pidgin English.
It took Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to draw Ngige’s attention to his blunder and save him from further embarrassment.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who led the APC campaign rally, delivered a more lucid message, telling the electorates not to waste their votes in Saturday’s governorship election.
Rather, the President urged voters to elect Fayemi, given the track record of the ruling APC administration in the country.
He said the people of Ekiti must not be deceived by the “stomach infrastructure” programme of the PDP government in the state, describing it as at variance with the norms in a functional democracy.
Buhari said he was in Ekiti not only to campaign for Fayemi but also to create awareness as well as sensitise the people on the dividends of democracy so far made available to them.
Also addressing the crowd, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, said Fayemi would redress all the wrongs of the Fayose administration.
He also gave an assurance that all the salaries and emoluments owed workers by the Fayose administration would be paid.
Speaking in the same vein, APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, assured residents that the APC was committed to the progress and development of the country.
He accused the PDP of destroying the country’s economy, urging the people to embrace the change agenda of the APC.
The highpoint of the event was the formal defection to the APC by many PDP members including Senator Fatimah Raji-Rasaki, and a member of the House of Representatives, Oni Olamide.
