In what appears to be an imitation of Bola Tinubu’s jibe, Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, introduced Dapo Abiodun as the “Eleyi of Ogun state” at a governorship rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While introducing the Ogun governor at the Ekiti APC governorship rally held on Tuesday, Fayemi said he was told that he did not introduce Abiodun properly as the “Eleyi of Ogun state”.
Immediately after Fayemi’s comment, the APC chieftains standing on the podium, including Abiodun, started laughing.
“I have just been informed that I did not introduce governor Dapo Abiodun properly as the Eleyi of Ogun state,” the Ekiti governor said.
The governorship rally was attended by Tinubu, APC presidential candidate; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos; Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano governor; Abdullahi Adamu, APC national chairman; and Ibikunle Amosun, a senator.
The title — Eleyi of Ogun state — became popular on social media after Tinubu described Abiodun as “eleyi” during a meeting of APC delegates in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital, in the build-up to the party’s presidential primary.
In Yoruba language, the word “eleyi” means “this one” in English, and it is sometimes used in a condescending manner in terms of a person’s worth.
At the meeting in Ogun, Tinubu had said without his support, Abiodun would not have been governor of Ogun.
“This one (referring to Abiodun) that is sitting down here, could he have become governor without me? We were all in the stadium where they tore all the posters. Even the candidacy of the party, they didn’t want to give it to him,” the APC presidential candidate had said in Yoruba.
“It’s been over 25 years that I have been serving them. This one sitting at my back, Dapo, could he have become a governor if not for me?”
See video of the Ekiti APC guber rally below.
VIDEO: @kfayemi introduces @dabiodunMFR as ‘Eleyi of Ogun state’ at APC Ekiti guber rally#EkitiDecides2022 pic.twitter.com/gNLwYMSkJB
— TheCable (@thecableng) June 14, 2022
Source: Top Stories