(TuesdayRapAround)Ekiti 2018: Why Voters Must Allow GOOD REASONING To Prevail

Come July 14, 2018, the people of Ekiti State in the South Western Nigeria will file out to elect a new leader to pilot the affairs of the state for another four years.

One can only hope that, Ekiti, a state known to be citadel of intellectuals; a Land of Honour & Integrity, formerly referred to as Fountain of Knowledge, will live up to her billing by allowing good reasoning, sound judgement, sound intellect to prevail on the D-day.

This is very key because the state at this point cannot afford to allow this golden opportunity to pass without making profound decision to elect a genuine leader; someone who truly is ready to serve the interest of the people of the state and not some unknown forces who are waiting to pounce on the state. The state, with its meagre income and IGR cannot be allowed to ‘go down the drain’; to be swindled again by those appearing to be rescuer or deliverer but are actually wolf who shouldn’t be trusted.

Without prejudice to other candidates in the forthcoming election, the battle to the governorship seat is definitely going to be between the two leading political parties – the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The calculations, permutations, sure, are rife. The scheming, eleventh hour machinations are all on-going, no doubt.

From the last count, there are about 40 political parties willing to field candidates and participate in the election but from all indications, it remains to be seen how the other parties will work to displace the two prominent candidates of APC and PDP.

The candidate of APC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is banking on federal might to wrestle power from the outgoing governor. While Prof Kolapo Olusola of PDP is banking of Fayose’s influence to retain the plum seat in Ekiti.

At this point, I will like to put the two leading candidates in proper perspective – for broader appreciation. This dissection has become necessary because the Ekiti election is more of a litmus test for INEC as it prepares for 2019 general elections.

Fayemi once had a shot at the exalted office in Ekiti. He was there for four years before the outgoing Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose defeated him to stage a second coming. One may be tempted to ask – what exactly did Fayemi failed or could not do in his first year that he now felt unfulfilled; to justice his second coming to rule the state?

His passion to rule the state again, was it as a result of a genuine drive to truly liberate the people of the state from untold hardship as he has made people to believe?

Obviously, he was accused of running elitist government; that he left the state with a huge debt burden; that he stood aloof from the people of the state; that his government didn’t really flow with the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state. These feelings, however, may be difficult to substantiate, if not impossible owning our deadly politicking.

The outcome of the recent primaries where he emerged as the party’s choice candidate for the July 14 elections, also, cannot entirely be relied upon to justify his candidacy.

If it were to be where the people were ALLOWED TO FREELY CHOOSE their preferred flag bearer, probably he wouldn’t have emerged as the party’s candidate. But with Nigeria’s version of democracy where imposition of candidates, internal/undercover wrangling are the order of the day, people’s will are usually trampled upon with impunity by the elites – the big spenders who are always in the habit of imposing candidates on the people. This they do with impunity.

Another question is: will his second coming be different from other governors whose return for second term in office are characterised with controversies, abysmal performances and gross maladministration?

The people of Ekiti, sure, have a very dicey situation ahead of them.

Prof Kolapo on the other hand, seems to be enjoying the reward of being loyal to his boss, Mr. Fayose.

Insinuations in some quarters are that the Deputy Governor doesn’t have a heart of his own to govern the state, meaning that he is going to rule under the shadow of Fayose. Other people also believe that Fayose deliberately imposed Olusola to cover his alleged atrocities in office. It is up to the young professor to determine if he’s qualified for the job or not; and that whether he’s going to be tied to Fayose or not.

One fact that can’t be taken away from the foregoing is that states in Nigeria where the seat of government is tied to the apron string of ex-governor have had their respective bitter stories to tell; and in those states, the tradition of succession has always been a tug of war. This they do to avoid opposition to succeed them so that their ‘Yansh’ will not be opened in the market square. Examples abound, no doubt. Kwara is one of such states. Lagos is another example.

In the case of Kwara, several years after the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki left office, it was alleged he was still collecting pension and other emoluments. Until when the issue came up, and he was embarrassed, before he decided to stop milking illegally the state he once served for eight years. Beyond that, who will confirm if other things are still on-going unknown to people – since the current leadership in the state will never give an inkling of such (if there’s any).

Same thing goes for Lagos where the self-imposed ‘Jagaban’ has refused to vacate the seat of power after serving for solid, eventful eight years. In recent time, we have seen situations where stooges are being imposed at various levels – all to do the bidding of their principal.

Of note was the recent controversial Land Use Charge Gov Akinwunmi Ambode in conjunction with the state house of assembly attempted to foist on the people of the state. Unbelievably, a name of an agency said to belong to Mr. Tinubu, Alpha Beta, in a dramatic fashion, was allegedly included in the law passed by the assembly before the Gov appended his signature. The name was later to be expunged with conflicting reports denying, and correcting the mix up. One begins to wonder whose interest all these accidental leaders are out to serve.

Nations of the world where the principle of democratic system have been utilised to the fullest, is this the same way the system was and or are still being run over there? Incidentally, these leaders always claim they’ve travelled far and wide to really how best to run a state.

This bring to fore the age long tradition where outgoing leaders (Governors) usually cry more than the ‘bereaved’ (the incoming administration). Are the dispositions actually born out of genuine interest to better the lots of the people or they’re for selfish motive?

Another instance that’s a bit different was that of Anambra where the former Governor, Mr. Peter Obi campaigned and helped installed Mr. Willy Obiano only for the two to part ways shortly after election. Obi, on his part, looks not bothered by the development.

What is at stake here is – who is ready to serve the people AND NOT somebody that’s coming in to do the bidding of one unrepentant leader. The people MUST be resolute to elect pro-people leader. They need to watch those promising heaven and earth, very closely. Memory of the ubiquitous change the APC at the federal level promised in 2015 which turned out to be a mirage is still very much fresh – the reason why they all need to look and LOOK WELL before they leap to elect from among the candidates come July 14.

They can’t afford to sell their collective fortune for a pot of porridge or cash gift.

Of course, the entire world is watching.

Even the integrity of INEC is at stake. The commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair elections come 2019 is still largely, under serious, big QUESTION MARK. This is due to its inability to clear the air over cases of underage voters in some northern states.

The world, no doubt, is watching.