As Ekiti Begins A New Journey… By Ayo Fatohun Those who thought the incoming governor of Ekiti State has turned a new leaf must be thinking otherwise now. His inaugural speech today in Ado Ekiti gave one an idea of what his governance style would look like. As I stay glued to watch it live on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), a lot of things were going on in my mind. To worsen the situation, my colleagues in office who are from other states started making mockery of my new governors speech. Then, it occurred to me to put my thoughts down on how I think Ekiti would fare in the next four years. To start with, the outcome of the June 21 election in the state came as a surprise to many stakeholders. While it was a great shock to the elite and Nigerians within and in the Diaspora that former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who convincingly raised the stake of governance in the state failed at the poll, it didnt surprise millions of Ekiti people who understood the psyche of the civil servants, the artisans and the commercial cyclists. The purpose of this piece is neither to dwell on why Fayemi lost nor repeat what others had written about the election process, but to paint the likely picture of what would become the fortune of the state in the next four years. Before now, not a few people had painted the ugly picture of how Dr. Fayemis sophisticated life style cost him the victory in the election. Similarly, many people have x-rayed the qualities of the new Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. However, in analyzing Fayose, most commentators were economical with the truth for reasons best known to them. But major reason why those who were sympathetic to Fayose described him as a born again was because of their interest. For instance, a former senator of the federal republic, Sola Akinyede saw in Fayose, attributes of an intellectual. He wrote in an opinion published in THISDAY newspaper shortly after Fayose won the guber election that he (Fayose), had what many Phd holders lacked. He concluded that he deserved the victory, arguing that he was the best material for the exhorted post. Of course, the former senator is a ambitious politician, who still keen at returning to the hallow chambers. He saw the need to praise Fayose so that he could appeal to the emotions of both the new governor and the power-that-be in Abuja. One also wondered why Chief Dipo Anisulowo, who chaired the group -Ekiti Collectives that removed Fayose in 2006, turned out to be the Director General of his campaign organisation. The duo of Akinyede and Anisulowo represent many others, who closed their eyes to the shortcomings of Mr. Fayose because of their interests. A few elite like the erudite professor of International Law, Akin Oyebode and Lagos Lawyer, Femi Falana, were bold enough to maintain their stands and painted Mr. Fayose in his true colours. There were others who were diplomatic enough to sit on the fence. Those who fall into this category were of the opinion that Mr. Ayo Fayose had learnt his lessons. I write this based on my past encounter with over 50 percent of the principal actors in Ekiti politics between 1999 and 2014, including the controversial Mr. Fayose, who have suddenly become a hero. To start with, for anybody to say Mr. Fayose has changed is like deceiving the world. Even the PDP that gave him the go-ahead knew that he was asira oja, a misfit for the state. He became their last result because of the presidencys desperation to capture the south west. It is hard to contest the fact that Fayose has the magic wand to win election but it is also difficult to deny the fact that he has no moral values and dispositions to take the state to an enviable position. To many of us, he is a clown and master dribbler who knows how to appeal to emotions. But a 30 minutes spent with him is enough to reveal his true person. In behavior, social dispositions and mannerism, Fayoses personality is antithetical to Ekiti culture and value. In describing how Fayose would build and ruin PDP, one of my friends once refered to him as akogba tugba ka. And that is what Egbon Ayo is. Ekiti in the Next Four Years Under Fayose, Ekiti State will be popular throughout his four-year term but for wrong reasons. Though an actor, the Afao Ekiti born politician often over acts. He has complex and this will force him again to begin descending on people perceived to be enemies, especially among the elite. It will interest political watchers that very soon; the new governor will become a burden to both his party and the state. The equity of Ekiti brand, which soared high under Fayemi will be punctured. In fact, many PDP leaders will be relegated to the back seats because Fayose cannot stand competition. He is a leader who always wants to be hero worshiped. Because of his inferiority complex, Fayose cannot withstand genuine arguments. Very soon, his marriage to the likes of Dayo Adeyeye, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Ayo Arise, Opeyemi Bamidele and a host of others will crumble. This explains why he worked with three people as deputy governors within three years -Abiodun Aluko, Bisi Omoyeni and Abiodun Olujimi. The profile of the APC will soon be boosted as many leaders, especially Opeyemi Bamidele and other former APC members, who pitched their tents with either Fayose or Bamidele will retrace their steps and come back into the fold. For Dayo Adeyeye, the best way to keep the relationship going is to maintain a low profile because Fayose will soon frown at any attempt for him to consolidate on his popularity prior to the PDP primary in the state. Again, as a result of his interest to assume the leadership position of his party in the South West ahead of 2015 election, Fayose will soon clash with leaders like Governor Segun Mimiko, who recently decamped, Bode George and the almighty Buruji Kasamu. To those of us who know Fayose very well, the failure of Senator Iyiola Omisore in Osun would be considered a plus in Fayose’s political camp. Under Fayose, all elective posts, contracts and appointment would be sold indirectly to the highest bidders. In a situation, where cash are not put on the table, there would be agreement of understanding for beneficiaries to be parting with substantial part of their take home. It happened in Ekiti between 2003 and 2006 when councilors, local government chairmen, assembly members, commissioners and even members of the National Assembly were forced to be donating every month to Ayo Fayose Founation. Of course, proceed from the contribution went to Mr. Fayoses private purse. It was so bad that political office holders and elected individuals were earning half of what their counterparts in Osun and neighboring Ondo State were earning. The Misery In some quarters, Fayoses victory in the June 21 election was perceived as a misery. Nobody could explain how the Ekiti people; the traditional rulers whose rights were trampled upon between 2003 and 2006, quickly forgave him, how the gruesome murder of many people, including Tunde Omojola in Ifaki, Ayo Daramola in Ijan Ekiti and scores of students at the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti were thrown into dustbin of history. How Ekiti people forgot about the pottery project was like magic. Nobody could explain till date how we quickly forgot how Fayoses substandard roads were washed-off within six months of construction. Nobody remembered again on June 21 how he looted the Ikogosi Warm Spring and moved all the Air-conditioners installed by Niyi Adebayo were moved to his private home in Ibadan. There are more to it than meeting the eye but in no distant time, the secret will naturally be revealed. It will shock the world the way the outcome of the June election shocked Nigerians. Abo Oro lanso fomo luwabi! *Ayo Fatohun, a public commentator lives at no. 9 Owobamigbe Street, NEPA, Akure.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 07:03:32 +0000
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