Amid drama, music and rhetoric, the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Peter Fayose, was on October 16 inaugurated, for the second time, as governor for the next four years. With his swearing in by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, he became the fourth democratically elected governor of Ekiti State. The event, which attracted a mammoth crowd consisting of the lowly and the mighty, was also witnessed by top officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; Governors Godswill Akpabio, Sule Lamido, Olusegun Mimiko and Ibrahim Shema of Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Ondo and Katsina States respectively, and the former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja.
Fayose used the occasion to call on all Ekiti people to join hands with his government to usher in another era of restoration of meals to tables, smiles to faces, money to pockets, soundness of body and mind, and unique infrastructural development, prosperity and plenty. Highlights of the inauguration include the appointment of principal government officials, including a Personal Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties and Stomach Infrastructure. Fayose promised that his administration would restructure the state public service with particular regard to personnel, promotion and appointments, and also enthrone discipline in the system.
The new governor took a swipe at the former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for taking some decisions that the new administration had to reverse. These include the non-recognition of his newly created 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and the demotion of eight permanent secretaries he appointed after the June 21 election.
Now that Fayose has assumed the mantle of leadership in Ekiti for a second time, he should eschew bitterness and bury the hatchet. As the new father of the state, he should govern with restraint and civility expected of an occupant of such exalted office. Let there be peace in Ekiti to break, forthwith, the myth of “one week, one trouble,” that has become the lot of the people in the state for some years now.
Although the transition from Fayemi to Fayose did not come as smoothly as expected on account of the avoidable unsavoury political developments some weeks to the inauguration, especially the complete breakdown of law and order in the state, we urge Fayose to move on and be a governor for the entire Ekiti people, and deliver on his numerous campaign promises. There should be no room for a witch-hunt or vindictiveness. The task ahead of him now is to ensure that peace and prosperity return to the state.
Fayose should bear in mind that his second coming to power is a product of the choice of Ekiti people. That choice which the people made on June 21 should be respected. The result of the election that brought him to power is not in doubt. That is probably why the  former governor, Fayemi, initially readily conceded defeat, congratulated him and set up a transition committee. Therefore, we urge all Ekiti people to support the new administration and contribute to the effort to move the state to the next level.
We congratulate Fayose on his second coming to power in Ekiti. He must, however, realise that his assessment as governor of Ekiti this second time has already begun. So, he should be forward-looking and dwell less on the past. He should hit the ground running and improve on what his predecessor did. Let him govern well and defend his mandate by making Ekiti people happy. He must guard against the bane of politics in this part of the world, which is the failure of politicians to deliver on their promises. May Fayose never disappoint on this score. We also enjoin his adversaries to cooperate with him in the best interest of Ekiti. If they do not, the state will be the loser. We wish  Ayodele Fayose a smooth and successful tenure in office.

The second coming of Ayo Fayose