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John Olukayode Fayemi CON ((Listen); born 9 February 1965) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Ekiti State from 2018 to 2022. He previously served in office between 2010 and 2014 before losing re-election to Ayodele Fayose. He was also the Minister of Solid Minerals Development in President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet from 11 November 2015 to 30 May 2018, when he resigned to contest for a second term as Governor of Ekiti State. He is the pioneer president of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) since 9 September 2022.

Early life

John Olukayode Folorunso Fayemi was born in Ibadan on 9 February 1965 to an Ekiti parentage from Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State.

Education

Fayemi had his primary education at ICC Primary School, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State between 1970 and 1975 and attended Christ's School Ado Ekiti from 1975 to 1980. He later went on to receive degrees in history, politics and international relations from the University of Lagos and University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). From 1989 to 1992, he earned a doctorate in war studies from King's College London, specializing in civil-military relations.

Career

After his first degree in 1984, he proceeded on the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps from 1985 to 1986, during which he was a lecturer at the Nigeria-Police Training College in Sokoto. After his service year, he served as a research officer at Development & Management Consultants in Ikeja between 1987 and 1989. When he moved to the United Kingdom to pursue his doctoral studies between 1991 and 1993, he worked as a research officer at the African Research and Information Bureau in London. In 1992, he was a tutorial fellow at the War Studies Department at King's College, London, during his doctoral studies. Later between 1993 and 1995, he was the Strategy Development Adviser of Deptford City Challenge in London and later served as the Secretary General of the Media Empowerment for Africa (The Radio Foundation) in London between 1995 and 1997. He was also a journalist with The Guardian and City Tempo; and the editor of Nigeria-Now, a defunct political monthly magazine. In 1997, Fayemi returned to Nigeria, where he established the Centre for Democracy and Development Centre for Democracy & Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development, peace-building and human security in Africa, where he served as Director from 1997 to 2006.

Kayode Fayemi has taught in Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia. He has also served as an adviser on transitional justice, regional integration, constitutionalism, security sector reform and civil-military relations issues to various governments, inter-governmental institutions and development agencies. He was the main technical adviser to Nigeria's The Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel), which investigated past abuses and served on the Presidential Implementation Committees on Security Sector Reform, NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals. He was technical expert to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on small arms and light weapons and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on governance issues. At other times he has served as a consultant to the OECD on Security Sector Reform and chaired the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative's Committee of Experts on developing guiding principles and mechanisms of constitution making in Commonwealth Africa.

On 9 September 2022, Fayemi emerged as the first elected president of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF), a forum which is organised by United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, UCLG Africa in collaboration with the Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM), the Council of the Oriental Region (CRO) and the Directorate General of Territorial Collectivities (DGCT) of the Ministry of the Interior of the Kingdom of Morocco. This Forum brought together for the first time the Presidents of regions, counties and federal states of more than 20 African countries that have a second level of decentralised territorial government, including Nigeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, etc.

Elections

In 2006, Fayemi made his entry into partisan politics ahead of the 2007 election during which he contested for Governor of Ekiti State under the defunct Action Congress. After three and a half years fighting through the legal system, on 15 October 2010 the appeal court sitting in Kwara state declared Fayemi the duly elected Governor of Ekiti State, and marked the end of Olusegun Oni's administration as the then Governor of the state. Daily Trust, a national daily, captured the electoral journey in its editorial, published on Friday, 22 October 2010 under the title, Closure to Ekiti 2007 Governorship Saga.

Governor of Ekiti State

In April 2014, Fayemi was endorsed as the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the state's gubernatorial elections slated for 21 June 2014. The emergence of Fayemi was preceded by congress held before the governor who had no contestant was endorsed as the flag bearers of their state in the governorship elections. Kayode Fayemi was defeated at the polls on 21 June 2014 by previous governor Ayodele Fayose.

Fayemi recontested for second term as Ekiti state governor under the platform of the All Progressive Congress in the 14 July 2018 governorship election after resigning as the Minister of Solid Minerals Development. He was officially declared the winner of the 2018 Ekiti State gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission on 15 July 2018. He won by 19,345 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party's Kolapo Olusola Eleka who was second.

In October 2018, Fayemi was sworn in as Ekiti State governor for the second time. Fayemi was elected chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum. This announcement was made by the immediate past chairman, Abdulaziz Yari on Wednesday evening. He said Fayemi was unanimously elected by the governors to lead the forum till 2021.

Controversies

Anti-corruption petition

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in 2016 investigated Fayemi's tenure as Governor of Ekiti State from 2010 to 2014, for an alleged misappropriation of over N25 billion infrastructure bond by his government. The outcome of the investigation showed that Fayemi was innocent. In July 2020, he was accused of "financial impropriety" relating to the Ajaokuta Steel Mill during his tenure as Minister of Solid Minerals from 2015 to 2018. All charges were later dropped and he was found innocent.

Succession tussle

In January 2022, Fayemi was accused of bribery and electoral fraud surrounding the 2022 Ekiti APC gubernatorial primary. Reports that Fayemi had bribed the APC primary committee and INEC officials in the days before the primary led to the withdrawal of all candidates aside from the Fayemi-supported Abiodun Oyebanji. Such extreme efforts were speculated to be connected to Fayemi's desire to have an ally as his successor to give a boost to his likely 2022 presidential candidacy. This allegation was dismissed by Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, who chaired the panel that conducted the primary election and maintained that the outcome of the exercise was a reflection of the wishes of supporters of the party in the state. Oyebanji emerged victorious from the primary, receiving nearly 97% of the vote with a margin of over 100,000 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission also informed the court that the January 27 governorship primary election of the Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC), which it monitored, was free, fair and credible. In its ruling, the Federal High Court found the allegation of electoral manipulation to be baseless and unfounded, and it threw out the suit filed by a contestant in the 27 January 2022 Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, Kayode Ojo, challenging the victory of the Governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji.

End SARS protest

In October 2020 during the nationwide #EndSARS protest he joined the protesters at the protest grounds to express his support for their demand but advised on the need for them to have an exit strategy and on the need to create a window of dialogue with the Federal Government on their demands before the protest was hijacked. He narrated his experience as one of the notable faces of the anti-military and protesters that facilitated the current democratic order. He said his group knew when to pause to negotiate with the government and that made them successful. He said this at The Africa Policy Dialogue Series virtual symposium held by the Harvard Kenny Alumni Association of Nigeria with the theme: Harnessing Africa's Demographic Dividend for Peace, Security and Productivity through Investments in Youth. He admitted that the youths, who were actively participating in the #EndSARS protest at the time, had a right to demand for good governance and an end to police brutality, saying the government owes that to them.

Fellows and membership

• Kayode Fayemi is a Fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan
• Adjunct Professor of Security Studies at the African Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., United States.
• He was also a visiting professor in the African Studies Programme at Northwestern University, Evanston, United States, in 2004.
• Dr Fayemi serves on numerous Boards including the Governing Board of the Open Society Justice Institute, Baobab for Women's Human Rights, African Security Sector Network, and on the Advisory Board of the Global Facilitation Network on Security Sector Reform and on the Management Culture Board of the ECOWAS Secretariat.
• Member, Africa Policy Advisory Panel of the British Government.

Writings

Fayemi has written on governance and democratization, civil-military relations and security sector issues in Africa. Among his recent books are: Deepening the Culture of Constitutionalism: The Role of Regional Institutions in Constitutional Development in Africa (CDD, 2003), Security Sector Governance in Africa: A Handbook (edited with Nicole Ball, CDD, 2004) and Out of the Shadows: Exile and the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in Nigeria (CDD, 2005).

Award

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

See also

• List of governors of Ekiti State

References

1. Afolabi, Ayodele (2 January 2022). "Fayemi urges residents to ensure peaceful governorship poll". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
2. "Technical education key to economic prosperity - Fayemi". The Nation. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
3. Taiwo, Orisalade Adetunji (11 February 2022). "John Kayode Fayemi Ph.D must run!". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
4. "Fayemi Resigns As Minister To Focus On Defeating Fayose's Deputy". Sahara Reporters. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
5. ^ Umoru, Henry (9 September 2022). "Breaking: Fayemi elected President of the Forum of Regions of Africa". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
6. ^ "The Grass Not Always Greener". The Business Year. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
7. "Kayode and Bisi Fayemi 30 Years and Still Lovebirds". This Day. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
8. ^ "Ministerial nominee, Kayode Fayemi John's CV". Vanguard. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
9. "Fayemi at 55: Pondering the Challenge of His Age". This Day. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
10. "Jubilation In Ekiti: Fayemi In, Oni Out, Appeal Court In Landmark Judgment". P.M. News. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
11. "FIFA, Blatter in secret talks on future". Daily Trust. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
12. "Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi Get Second-Term Tickets For Upcoming Elections". 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
13. Ololade, Olasupo (30 May 2018). "Breaking: Ekiti APC Guber Aspirant Resigns As Buhari's Minister". Nigeria News. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
14. Ogundele, Kamarudeen (15 July 2018). "INEC declares Fayemi winner of Ekiti Gov election". The Punch. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
15. Ibekwe, Nicholas (15 July 2018). "Fayemi wins Ekiti gubernatorial election". Premium Times. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
16. Abimbola, Oluwakemi (16 October 2018). "Kayode Fayemi sworn-in as Governor of Ekiti state". The Punch. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
17. "Ekiti Gov., Fayemi elected Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum". Oak TV. 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
18. "2021: Fayemi to launch safe city project". Naijalitz News. Naijalitz. 1 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
19. Oyeyemi, Remi (28 March 2016). "Bukola Saraki Vs Kayode Fayemi: A Nexus Of Corruption". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
20. "Group Demands Probe Of Ekiti Governor, Fayemi, Over Alleged Fraudulent Ajaokuta Steel Company Transaction". Sahara Reporters. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
21. "How Ekiti Governor, Fayemi, Paid N1.2billion To APC Primary Election Committee For 'Anointed' Candidate To Clinch Party's Ticket". Sahara Reporters. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
22. "Governor Fayemi Hosts INEC Officials To Lavish Dinner Ahead Of Ekiti APC Primary In Desperate Bid To Influence Election Outcome". Sahara Reporters. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
23. "Ekiti: APC governorship aspirants withdraw from primary election". The Guardian. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
24. Irede, Akin (24 January 2022). "Nigeria 2023: Will Kayode Fayemi take a shot at the presidency". The Africa Report. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
25. "Badaru insists Ekiti APC primary was free, fair". The Guardian. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
26. "Ekiti 2022: Amid protests, fraud allegations, Biodun Oyebanji declared APC gubernatorial candidate". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
27. Owolabi, Femi (27 January 2022). "Biodun Oyebanji wins Ekiti APC governorship primary election". TheCable. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
28. "INEC to court: Ekiti APC governorship primary was credible". The Nation. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
29. Sodeinde, Gbenga (4 August 2022). "Oyebanji wins as court quashes case contesting victory". Business Day. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
30. Akinkuotu, Eniola (11 December 2020). "I was an '#EndSARS protester' who knew when to negotiate —Fayemi". The Punch. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
31. ^ Oyebode, Yinka (13 October 2018). "Dr John Kayode Fayemi (Incoming Governor of Ekiti State)". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
32. "Full List: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients". The Nation. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.

External links

• Fayemi, Kayode. A Manifesto for Ekiti Transformation
• Fayemi, Kayode. Security Challenges

v t e Nigerian state governors 2007–2011 term
Abia Theodore Orji Adamawa Murtala Nyako Akwa Ibom Godswill Akpabio Anambra Peter Obi Bauchi Isa Yuguda Bayelsa Timipre Sylva Benue Gabriel Suswam Borno Ali Modu Sheriff Cross River Liyel Imoke Delta Emmanuel Uduaghan Ebonyi Martin Elechi Edo Oserheimen Osunbor (annulled) Adams Aliyu Oshiomle Ekiti Olusegun Oni (annulled) Kayode Fayemi Enugu Sullivan Chime Gombe Mohammed Danjuma Goje Imo Ikedi Ohakim Jigawa Sule Lamido Kaduna Namadi Sambo (appointed VP) Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Kano Ibrahim Shekarau Katsina Ibrahim Shema Kebbi Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari Kogi Ibrahim Idris Kwara Bukola Saraki Lagos Babatunde Fashola Nasarawa Aliyu Doma Niger Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu Ogun Gbenga Daniel Ondo Olusegun Agagu (annulled) Olusegun Mimiko Osun Olagunsoye Oyinlola (annulled) Rauf Aregbesola Oyo Christopher Alao-Akala Plateau Jonah David Jang Rivers Rotimi Amaechi Sokoto Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko Taraba Danbaba Suntai Yobe Mamman Bello Ali (died) Ibrahim Geidam Zamfara Mahmud Shinkafi
See also Nigerian state governors 2003-2007 term, Nigerian state governors 2011–2015 term

• 1965 births
• Living people
• Yoruba politicians
• Governors of Ekiti State
• Alumni of King's College London
• University of Lagos alumni
• Action Congress of Nigeria politicians
• All Progressives Congress politicians
• Yoruba academics
• Nigerian expatriate academics in the United States
• Obafemi Awolowo University alumni
• Academic staff of the University of Ibadan
• National Defense University faculty
• Christ's School, Ado Ekiti alumni
• Commanders of the Order of the Niger