Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose on Saturday issued a poignant set of posthumous instructions to the state government, mandating a burial within four weeks of his demise and barring any post-interment visits, in a video message that underscores his deep ties to the southwestern Nigerian polity he once led.
The 65-year-old Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, marking his birthday with the six-minute YouTube clip aired by City Edge TV, framed the directives as a final act of service, declaring his body belongs to Ekiti and entrusting all arrangements to its authorities.
“Remember me for anything. And when I die, let me say this. Death is inevitable. My body belongs to the Ekiti State Government. I’m delivering a letter to the governor,” Fayose stated in the footage, blending solemnity with his trademark candour.
He elaborated on the timeline and logistics, adding: “Let us say in another 20, 30 years, 15 years, whatever time, for the glory of God. The Ekiti state government takes over my body, and I must be buried within four weeks. Because the state might not be ready within two, three days, we allow them four weeks.”
Fayose further specified that his children should forgo traditional mourning attire, opting for everyday clothes, and fully adhere to the government’s directives at the time, while prohibiting any visits to his grave thereafter.
The missive, delivered amid Fayose’s ongoing political commentary and past health battles, evokes his 2018 handover to successor Kayode Fayemi, where he similarly pledged enduring loyalty to Ekiti. No official response has emerged from the current administration, but the video has resonated widely, prompting tributes to the fiery ex-governor’s unyielding public persona.
