Former Two-term First Lady of Ekiti State
An Unseen Battle Tested Warrior Who Fought All Battles and Won them all On Her Feet and With Her Faith.
To be able to answer that question about a virtuous wife, as stated in the bible, a virtuous woman who can find? As addressed to all men, I recommend without any shade of doubt the life of a woman that I know fairly and by her sterling and untainted reputation, Her Excellency, Mrs Feyisitan Fayose, the wife of the effervescent former Governor of Ekiti.
I believe the Scripture wanted all men in their search for a good wife to be extremely cautious and careful, and went further to highlight the characters and characteristics of who should fit that role. I believe Governor Ayo Fayose found her.
Today I am comfortable in my skin to say a human perfect fit and match of all the characteristics as enunciated in the bible is this woman, Mrs Feyisitan Fayose.
I have been in places where people had asked me or the discussions propped up about the first lady of states, and sometimes about our state, and in their rating Mrs Feyisitan Fayose comes far and above everyone else.
During her husband’s tenure, by choice, she opted to really stay in the shadows and her visibility was reduced to almost two events only, the end-of-year Carols service and New Year visit to hospitals and motherless babies’ homes, she was never one to share a seat with her husband at state functions, no state-related functions or roles assigned, mandatorily allotted or snatched in a demonstration or to assert the position of the Wife of Governor.
She was contented with remaining the REAL POWER BEHIND HER HUSBAND FIGHTING HIS BATTLES FROM HER KNEES, IN DRY FASTINGS AND THROUGH HER FIERY FAITH.
Whoever does not believe this should go and review the trajectory of the life of the person, personae and personality of her husband His Excellency, Ayodele Peter Fayose, the Oshokomale and Ebora to the jollof rice even before he became Governor.
This very reserved and intelligent woman is not one to flaunt anything from outward appearance to visibility or her position, or wealth, she has chosen to be impactful in the best way she knows I.e through her prayers, putting the wellbeing of her husband and children first every time.
Even at the milestone of 60th, she has vehemently refused any lousy party! Rather opting for a quiet family time.
Without doubt, I am convinced that without this huge power plug behind a man like Ayodele Peter Fayose, it most likely would have been an impossibility to have Governor Ayodele Fayose survive all of his adult life battles, from conquering the street to becoming financially independent coming from that modest background and rising to significance and relevance in business even before his assumption of the position of Governor, not stopping there, he went further from that relatively unknown and modest status to become the Governor of Ekiti State without a godfather defeating the privileged son of a General.
Whoever thinks that conquering the street is easy should go and do a sitrep and undertake a check of millions that the street had literally consumed not only their visions and dreams but even their lives either through usage of drugs, abuse of alcohol and indeed never to be able to rise, Ayo Fayose survived the street because of this quiet power plug whose power is not in mechanical engines that could be measured in horsepower, or any manpower but simply Godspower!
When the innocuous and little-known ebullient man wanted to run for Governor, I am told this gentle power base sought clearance from Headquarters above and secured it for him before Governor Fayose stepped out, I recall his first campaign poster was titled “Who is Ayo Fayose ?” The wife knew who he was and is!
He was derided as a joker! Well, it turned out that the joke was on all those who underestimated the power behind the then-young man daring to tread where angels buckle. He won.
When he eventually did, everyone said nah Juju, nah wetin he poured inside the water tankers that he used to provide water, a man who recognised that the people indeed needed water and went ahead to provide the water they wanted backed by wisdom from on high and drawing steady strength from the knees and virtues and from the faith of this unknown quiet woman Mrs Feyisitan Fayose, the bourgeoisie kept underestimating him, sometimes bordering on derision, but this woman had sealed it for her beloved husband.
Then the trouble started due to a bit of youthful exuberance that comes with conquests and defeating erstwhile weighty figures and systems as a young man, eventually, he ran into trouble water and was impeached in a dramatic manner, then began another long and winding tortuous journey for him, through thick and thin, the travails, the power plug did not unplug! She stuck by him all the way.
I am reliably told that yet again, it was she who declared that Governor Ayodele Fayose would come back and that no matter how tough the comeback bid would be, it had been sealed on her knees and through her unshaken faith, she was the armour bearer so to speak, an impregnable shield 🛡 not only for her husband but her children.
Every excess that may be attributed or attributable to Governor Ayodele Fayose, this power plug shielded him from deadly and fiery consequences and recompense that ordinarily would have sent anyone not graced to have someone like Mrs Feyisitan Fayose taking the bullets and diverting them in whatever manner and form they appear.
It is now history, that Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose came back Eight years, Eight days later after he was removed from office on the strength of this power plug and power base.
Today I join the family of the former Governor, Ayodele Fayose to salute and celebrate this unusually amazing woman, soft-hearted, soft-spoken, deeply intelligent but moderated in her outlook of life, a woman of supra, ultra virtues of simplicity, not garrulous, dedication, public-spirited without being showy, unwavering pillar of support and above all a woman who truly had found her essence and purpose in life.
May you continue to be engraved in the palm of your creator in whom you have found your ultimate essence, and may the grace that has found you never leave you, well I am sure this prayer is stale and too late, knowing you for the life of holiness that you not only preach but live, you abhor unnecessary ostentation and ostentatious living and lifestyle, so that grace is already there.
I trust God to continue to showcase you as an exemplary woman and a jewel of inestimable value to your maverick, boisterous and enigmatic husband just as Pa Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo declared and testified of Hannah Dideolu as his “jewel of inestimable value”, I believe that is his declaration and testimony too.
Happy Birthday to our Delectable Former First Lady, Mrs Feyisitan Fayose.
By Congressman Bimbo Daramola
7th January, 2024
