I am bit worried that in spite of our shared homogeneity in Ekiti, we still find it difficult to arrive at consensus with ease. This is more so, especially in politics than many other sphere of human endeavour. I wonder why, perhaps maybe, because politics is driven by interest. It is sheer interest that would make people of strange temperament and background band together. It becomes more baffling when persons of questionable character parade themselves for high office and you see some people jostle for them. It can be applauded if a performing individual like Governor Kayode Fayemi commands the support of a vast majority of people not for renegades and charlatans.
On June 21, 2014, Ekiti goes to the polls to either validate Fayemi’s continuity slogan or have such derailed by a twist of logic. The state can boost of a vast array of eminent personalities who have distinguished themselves in all fields of human endeavour but when it comes to politics, it is a different ball game. It is mind boggling that a state which can rightly call itself, “the fountain of knowledge”, not too long ago, had a certain, Ayodele Fayose, as governor between 2003 and 2006 before he was impeached from office. Too bad that Fayose once happened in Ekiti but for a second time will be tragic. It is ironic that less than a decade after he was thrown out of office for sundry crimes, he is today the flag bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in the forth-coming election. That gives a clear picture of how we play politics in Nigeria.
If you think the self styled largest party in Africa, will have respect for a state with such huge human capital by fielding candidate with a decent background, you will be shocked that nothing of such is a factor in its choice. It is embarrassing that a man who was impeached for sundry crimes will today be parading himself as a candidate. Pin him down to articulate his vision and policy thrust and you will not help but wonder, why this error in the 21st century. He will be exposed for what he truly is: a poison that ought to be avoided. Perhaps, he is inspired by the fact that you can get away with any crime. A country of anything goes. Like on Charlie boy show, anything can happen!
Columnist Tolu Ogunlesi, once wrote, “By a political leader’s actions and inactions, lives are easily built and destroyed on a large scale”. Lacking in demonstrable ability to govern, the state was put in reverse gear under his watch. In Ekiti, the electorates demonstrate its power by making a statement that not any longer, will a party field a person of questionable character and expect a win. If Ayodele Fayose, was impeached initially then it behoves on the electorates to shun him this time around on ethical grounds.
Some say, with politics, the more you look, the less you see but that cannot be entirely true. That is where the recent defection and open declaration of support by former governor Segun Oni, the Asiwaju of Ifaki to work for the continuation of Governor Kayode Fayemi for a second term in office is a great event. All observers and even partisan of politics in Ekiti who are truthful to their conscience should know that his reach and acceptance is beyond his Ekiti North Senatorial district base. What is indisputable is that his coming into the All Peoples Congress has guaranteed for Fayemi, victory in a zone where turbulence is a recurring decimal. Who will forget in a hurry Ido-Osi? Segun Oni, holds the ace in this election mainly because of his clout, goodwill, reach, and fierce followership which he commands effectively in the entire five local government areas of Ido-Osi, Oye, Ikole, Ilejemeje and Moba.
He argues that the return of Fayemi, a man who led his ouster from office, is a mission that must be accomplished. A simple deduction from the following is a rare opportunity to see the inner workings of a refined minded individual who has placed community above self and as such can be said to be the moral compass of the state. Some others of his type, who know the truth but because of what they have been promised have since maintained and un-dignifying silence and collaboration to put the state into bondage once again. This is when silence is not golden and to sit aloof is criminal. The Asiwaju of Ifaki, has taken charge by reaching out to the elites and his grassroots network. These are desperate times which call for detailed response. It is not a time for the elites to sit back and expect things to happen. We all must roll up our sleeves and get into the trenches.
Today the trumpet sounds its urgent call again, and all true lovers of good governance and liberty must heed the admonition of the former governor of the state, Segun Oni, when he said it is about the future and the kind of tomorrow we want to sustain. Today, we cannot tolerate that the evident and widespread hope is torpedoed by a clueless and vicious and no less rapacious opposition element, chief of whom is Fayose.
By his principled stance, there has arisen a league of opposition by some un-informed individuals whose notion of politics is about sharing the communal patrimony and disregard for ethnics above self. Some even, dare say, he is angling for relevance as if it is a crime for a man who was once a governor and national vice-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), before retracing his steps in conformity with good conscience and decency which are scarce commodity in Nigeria. Of course, nothing can be further from the truth that, Segun Oni, reverted to the APC for relevance sake. He is relevant. He was motivated by deep and genuine concern for his community and State.
The words of President John Kennedy to a Joint Convention of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Monday January 9, 1961, comes to mind: “When at some future date the high court of history sits in judgement on each one of us-recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state-our success or failure, in whatever office we hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions-were we truly men of courage? Were we truly men of judgement…were we truly men of integrity? Were we truly men of dedication? Segun Oni has all four in abundance!
TOPE OLORUNFEMI
Egun Quarters, Ifaki-Ekiti,
Ekiti State.
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