EKITI 2018: FAYEMI TOO DESPERATE By Adegboyega Ajayi

The unholy practice by successive governments to abandon programs and projects started by their predecessors is the bane of development and good governance in Nigeria.

This negative trend is unfortunately no respecter of tribes, religion or political affiliation. Politicians engage in this dastardly act for selfish reasons and the quest to destroy the legacies of their predecessors. It’s a common knowledge that politicians in Nigeria take pride in attempting to disparage their predecessors in the form of painting them and their projects inappropriate and a misplacement. Many Governors and even presidents are guilty of this undemocratically wasteful act. They erroneously forget that money invested on any abandoned project and program does not belong to their predecessors. The money came from the commonwealth of the society and therefore the society, not their predecessor, bear the brunt of every abandoned project or program.

The conduct of President Buhari leaves no one in doubt concerning the programs and projects of his predecessors. He has not only carried on with the projects or programs initiated by previous administrations, he has indeed made the best of every good thing he met on ground. The same can be said about the Governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who for the first time in the state chose not to play politics with the life and resources of his people. He retained, continued and maintained all the laudable projects and programs of his predecessor. Quoting his words, “our approach is that the well-being and comfort of Ondo state citizens are the most important and l will never mix that with politics.” What makes Buhari’s and Akeredolu’s approach to governance unique and peculiar is the fact that their predecessors were of different political parties and ideologies.

In ideal climes continuity of good governance is more of patriotism than partisan affiliation. The wisdom that compelled Buhari and Akeredolu not to abandon the programs and projects of their predecessors was first displayed by Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state when he took over from Dr. Segun Oni. Fayemi made sure that all the projects of Oni were completed to the benefits of Ekitikete. Even though both of them belonged to different political parties, Fayemi believes that the interest of the people comes first. Like or hate Fayemi, the reality is that his administration remains the best in Ekiti state in term of projects and programs. This doesn’t make him a saint, nobody is. It’s unfortunate that bad news trend faster and longer than good news. Despite Fayemi’s imperfections, his good deeds are far more than his mistakes.

What is Fayemi looking for again in Ekiti? What did he forget in Ekiti state government house? Is he the only one? Why is he so eager to govern Ekiti state again? These are frequently asked questions by politicians and onlookers alike. They are so engrossed with the result of 2014 election that they all ignore the wastes and ruins that pervade Ekiti land at the moment. They turn blind eyes to all the laudable projects commenced by Fayemi’s administration that have been abandoned or pretend as if they can’t see them. Billions of naira were spent to upgrade Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts to international standard. It was the cynosure of all eyes under Fayemi. To reduce cost of governance, the place was the official choice location for government (local and international) sponsors programs and seminar. A visit to the place now will draw tears from the eyes of every thorough bred Ekiti indigene. This world class turnaround was abandoned and allowed to rot and waste away because it was upgraded by Fayemi’s government. It is either that the present administration is ignorant of the fact that the money spent on the warm spring belonged to Ekitikete vis-a-vis themselves or they are intentionally wasteful or clueless about how governments is run.

Water is life! Fayemi in his wisdom dug hundreds of boreholes (motorized and manual) in public schools and strategic locations across the length and breadth of Ekiti state. Almost all the boreholes are not in use again because of lack of maintenance. Findings revealed that some of them can be fixed with as little as fifty thousand naira. However, because they were sunk and constructed by Fayemi’s administration, they were abandoned while the targeted beneficiary (innocent Ekiti residents) suffer lack of decent water supply. There is no local government area that has less than fifty (50) abandoned or dilapidated borehole system. Fayemi didn’t use his personal money to build any of these but the commonwealth of Ekitikete. It’s therefore callous and grossly unpatriotic for any government to allow such to rot and waste away all in the name of politics.

Fayemi wants to come back. With this misnomer of a government and level of rot in the state, who won’t be? No one goes to sleep when what he/she spent years to build is being spoiled by another person. Had Fayose built on the solid foundation laid by Fayemi, there would have been no need for Fayemi’s determination. Instead, he is lied against and demonized for no just cause.

Under this administration, all higher institutions in Ekiti state, that ran smoothly under Fayemi, are in disarray. It scrapped youth and farmers empowerment schemes without making provision for alternatives. Gratuity and pension of pensioners are not paramount to the goverment. It stopped social security for indigent elderly without provision for alternative. This government spent a whopping #5.5b to build a one kilometer bridge on dry land while blaming the unpaid workers salary (ranging between 6 and 9 months) on economic situation. Are these not enough to give right thinking individuals sleepless nights and desperately fight to right the wrong, if given the chance?

Fayemi is desperate to come back, not for personal or selfish gain but to restore hope to the hopeless and rebuild our commonwealth. Even though none of these abandoned projects was built with Fayemi’s personal money, he is pained and saddened that such monumental projects and assets of Ekitikete can be treated with such reckless abandonment. Politics, they say, is a dirty game. That’s why politicians lie, blackmail and assassinate character just to sway things in their favour. The greatest disservice that was done to Fayemi was to set the civil servants against him with blatant lies. Dr. Kayode Fayemi has apologized for whatever misgiving or negative interpretation attached to his polices. I am sure he will still address this issue as the campaign progresses.

Ekitikete, to establish true self-esteem and the much needed economic recovery, we must concentrate on our successes and forget about lies and the negative narratives of the past. To some, they say their jobs were at stake. To others, they are still working with the civil service because Fayemi didn’t make the second time. The local government workers across the state have been hoodwinked once again into believing that they will be sacked once Fayemi returns to Ekiti state government house. The teachers have been hypnotized with similar story that Fayemi is coming back to sack them enmass. If you are in Fayemi’s shoes and you know too well that all these are lies to demonize you, won’t you want to come back and prove your detractors wrong? Fayemi has more than enough reasons to be desperate for reelection. The time is now, for him to prove once again that he is “Ilufemiloye” (the preferred) of Ekiti state.

To the teachers and civil servants of Ekiti state, you have got nothing to be scared of. Your job is safe and secured with Fayemi. He made your welfare his paramount interest in his first term, he will treat you better this time around. Rather than sacking you, as widely spread, Fayemi will strengthen and equip the civil service. To the youth of Ekiti state, those laid-off by the present government and other job seekers, Fayemi is your only hope and gateway to joining the civil service. He did it once, he can do it better now. To the retirees and pensioners, hope is not lost. Fayemi will ensure that you enjoy your gratuity and pension without stress. To the indigent elderly, help is on the way. To the artisans, farmers and traders good tidings beckon. Fayemi is the key to our economic recovery. He has been there before and he performed. He is well positioned now to do great exploits. He is the darling of all and a pride of Ekitikete. He is on a mission to restore hope and to rewrite the history of governance in Ekiti state for the good of Ekitikete.

I know, somehow, that only when it’s dark enough, can you see stars. Ekitikete, we are closer to the light at the end of the tunnel now. Let’s jointly make it happen.

Fayemi is too desperate! He is desperate to win the heart of Ekitikete once again with excellent and unparalleled performance. Fayemi is desperate to make all civil servants and teachers happy again. Fayemi is desperate to see that our higher institutions are functional and running smoothly. Fayemi is desperate to see that our hospitals are well-equiped and functional once again. Fayemi is desperate to take care of jobless youths, students (through bursary and scholarship) and indigent elderly. Fayemi is desperate to provide social amenities for Ekitikete. Fayemi is desperate to reequip and strengthen our public schools. Fayemi is desperate to create schemes to assist the artisans, farmers and traders. Fayemi is desperate to ensure that salaries are paid as at when due. Fayemi is desperate to make Ekiti proud among the comity of states. Yes, Fayemi is desperate to be the reference for good governance in Ekiti state and beyond. ‘Egan kope koyin madun, oyin ti ladun tele’. Things can only get better under JKF. Fayemi is indeed too desperate. #JKFMyChoice