Comrade Agboola AbdulRahman
The Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo led administration in Ekiti state between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) advanced the good cause of Ekiti by prudent discharge of the duties and responsibilities of his office as the Governor of Ekiti State but lost his re-election bid to former Governor Ayodele Fayose in a controversial manner in the tsunami that swept away thestrong reign of AD in the South-west in 2003.
During the administration of Adebayo, the state witnessed high level of developments in infrastructure, health, education and security. The gains of the administration was spoilt by the scandalous, ruthless, crises ridden and purposeless administration of Fayose, which later culminated in his removal from office, imposition of state of emergency led by an administrator before the election of former Governor Segun Oni in 2007.
The legitimacy of the victory of Oni was confronted with a prolonged legal challenge, which later upturned his purported victory to favour of the present governor. During the struggle for legitimacy between Dr Kayode Fayemi and Oni, through their political parties of ACN and PDP, many political players supported Fayemi at the re-run election against Oni and stood firmly on the reputation of Fayemi as a worthy leader and regarded him as good omen for Ekiti state, which has already been positively confirmed by the performance of Ekiti state government in the last 40 months or thereabout.
Notable among the personalities that vowed on the integrity and good sense of purpose of Fayemi was his close ally, friend and partner Comrade Opeyemi Bamidele alongside former Governor Ayodele Fayose, who confirmed the diligence and capabilities of Fayemi to take Ekiti state to greater heights.
In the midst of fluctuating monthly allocation to Ekiti state and leadership malady in Nigeria, Fayemi has performed credibly to deserve a second term as governor of Ekiti state, going by available records of effective service delivery by his administration, that surpassed previous administration in terms of intensive health care, advancement in security, infrastructural development, improved basic and secondary education, agricultural developments, social amenities and other spheres of governance.
Every administration has its own inadequacies, but the Fayemi administration has performed adequately to a high degree making the inadequacies a minor, which could easily be addressed in the second term.
Where Bamidele is seen by many as an over ambitious person going by his poor handling of his aspiration to the House of Representatives in 2007 against one of his closest ally of over 25 years, Comrade Dele Alake, which led to a soiled relationship between them as a result of blunders committed by Bamidele against Dele Alake, many others see his onslaught against Fayemi as sheer wickedness going by the ideological inclinations and progressive partnership that bound them together over the years.
Bamidele, who served under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in many capacities and enjoyed the benevolence of both the AD and Action Congress as a NADECO foot soldier is now playing a spoiler role against the platform that gave him political relevance at the expense of the interest of the good people of Ekiti state.
Over the years, Ekiti state is regarded as fountain of knowledge reputed with sound intellectuals in the academics and other professions, even as a land of honour, the state deserves a trusted leader in the person of Dr Kayode Fayemi, who has advanced the cause of an average Ekiti indigene since his assumption of office. It is good to note that an environment with sound intellectuals could equally harbour retarded people with poor knowledge of core values of integrity and parameters to measure personalities worthy of entrusting with a public office like governor of a state.
The administration of Fayose was marred by highly rated misdemeanours in the public fore with many cases in court on criminal charges against him. In a sane environment, Fayose would never secure the ticket of a political party as a flag bearer but since the nation’s nemesis is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with no reputation than abysmal failure, he is a contender to the office he was disgracefully removed years ago.
The leaders of PDP have openly accepted the flaws of Fayose and attested to his previous misbehaviours with vain assurance that the candidate has repented and turned a new leaf which is not acceptable to the masses. In Yoruba Land, the sage says “Eni to jalele’kantobadanaranbori, aso ole loda bora”ati “Iwakoni fi oniwasile” which means “a Leopard does not change his spots”.
The young and old people of Ekiti state deserves the continuity of the productive, efficient and good governance showcased by the administration of Fayemi, it is on this note that it is expected of the good and well-meaning Ekiti leaders to safeguard the future of the younger ones by ensuring the successful re-election of Fayemi as governor of Ekiti state in order to sustain the core values the state is known for.
Ekiti people should not commit the same mistake committed against Niyi Adebayo in 2003 in order not to suffer similar fate suffered before the emergence of Fayemi years later.
A word is a enough for the wise.
Agboola is the National Coordinator, Mass Action for Good Governance and Grassroots Development in Nigeria.
