Otunba Niyi Adebayo, first executive governor of Ekiti State and current Minister of Trade and Investment has dismissed the rumor making the rounds that he is eyeing the Ekiti State governorship position in 2002.

Speaking to our reporter yesterday via a phone call Adebayo said the rumor has no basis. He told our reporter it is the handiwork of some political enemies.

Ask about a bill board mounted in Ado Ekiti for that purpose , Adebayo denied knowing anything about it. “ I have heard about it just like you. I did not authorize it and neither do I know those who installed it.”

He said he is very busy and occupied with the assignment giving to him by President Buhari. Moreover, he said, he occupied same position 17 years ago and do not have any reason to go back to it now.

“ My colleagues, I mean those who served with me when I was governor are looking to be President now. Fayemi who came many years after me and my political son wants to be President. Why should it be now that I will want to be governor again”, he asked.

The rumor of his bid to succeed Fayemi has been rife in the past six months. It however came to a head over the weekend when a bill board and several posters appeared on the street of Ado Ekiti , the state capital.

Some political analysts in the state informed our reporter that the bill board was erected by aides to Governor Kayode Fayemi on behalf of Adebayo but we could not confirm this.

Otunba Adebayo was a single term governor between 1999 and 2003. He was defeated by Ayo Fayose in the general election of 2003 and has since been in political wilderness until Buhari made him minister.

Before then he was Deputy National Chairman South of APC. His tenure like that of his governorship was lackluster and unremarkable.

Members of the PDP, particularly Fayose camp were happy yesterday when they learnt he is the one APC is bringing as governor. “ This is good for us. We shall teach them a lesson again. This time it will be worse than 16-0 , said a prominent member of PDP in Ado Ekiti who spoke to us.