Ekiti is the most peaceful state in Nigeria today, howbeit politically. The preponderance of encouraging reports on governance in the state in the nation’s media space, bear eloquent testimony to this positive affirmation. This relative peace has been made possible since the advent of the incumbent Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) because of the involvement of the unseeing hands of God in the project, Ekiti.
When John Kayode Fayemi, JKF, mid-wifed the first seamless intraparty transition in the state, some political analysts predicted doomsday for Fayemi. The reasons for this is not far-fetched. Almost everyone that installed a political successor got his hands burnt. The reality of the drama between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, Akpabio and Udom, Ibori and Uduagan, Oshiomole and Obaseki, Tinubu and Ambode, Aregbe and Oyetola, to mention but a few, are enough to predict impending political fallouts in Ekiti State.
In the contrary, almost two years into the administration of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the State has been peaceful with no serious intraparty or inter-party crisis. The governor seems to be doing pretty well. He was even given the Governor of the Year award by the Independent Newspaper few days ago. A gratifying feat, you would say!
In the history of independent Ekiti State, we now have a governor/ government that is loved not only by his political party, but also by the opposition. Recently, the Fayose-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party in Nigeria, endorsed Governor Oyebanji for a second term. Ekiti has never had it this good!
There were political crises in Kano, Akwa Ibom, Edo State, and Lagos just as we are encountering in Rivers State because the incumbents allegedly ditched the agreed agenda with their predecessors, who against all odds, enthroned them. Each of the predecessors at the centre of this political imbroglio felt betrayed and fought back. Unfortunately, where two elephants fight, the grass always suffers.
The aforementioned unpalatable political developments in these flash point states must have informed the reasoned calmness and noble disposition of John Kayode Fayemi, even in the face of the ongoing systemic, morbid attacks on his person and everything he stands for. This rare show of political maturity must have been motivated by his unalloyed love for Ekiti people and the state. For all intents and purposes, Ekiti State would have been thrown into an unfathomable dungeon, a political situation that would have drowned that of Rivers State safe for his self-restraining disposition. However, Fayemi’s treatment is nothing less than treachery and callousness under Oyebanji contrary to expectations.
For the first time in the history of seamless intraparty transition in Nigeria, the predecessor (Fayemi) doesn’t have a say in the government of the incumbent (Oyebanji). The gentlemanly arrangement was for Oyebanji to kick-start with about 60 per cent of the structure of Fayemi (of which he was a part) in the spirit of continuity and inject fresh hands of 40 per cent. Unfortunately, as of today, Fayemi cannot boast of having five per cent of his structure in the government because Oyebanji, upon assumption of office, thrashed the agreed accord and turned his back on his predecessor and the structure that produced him.
Oyebanji didn’t just treat JKF team as an outcast, but he also denied them their severance allowances while spending millions to service the oppositions. It is on record that all the candidates (House of Assembly, National Assembly and Governorship) of the People’s Democratic Party that contested against the All Progressives Congress and failed, are on the payroll of Oyebanji from May 2023 till date. The governor is lavishing money on the opposition and denying former appointees their entitlements. Even if you won’t reappoint them because of their perceived closeness to Fayemi why not pay them their entitlements? The increased federal allocation as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy has only ended up increasing the purchasing power of Oyebanji on the opposition and every other person, perceived as political enemies of Fayemi in preparation for a possible political showdown.
Ekiti is the only state with almost one-party (APC) House of Assembly where first timer controls the House of Assembly. The returned and experienced lawmakers were prevented from holding principal positions because they were suspected to be loyal to Fayemi. For the first time in the history of the legislature, experience amounts to nothing because of the naked disdain against anyone perceived to be pro-Fayemi. Even civil servants with confirmed links with Fayemi are not spared. It’s that bad in Ekiti State.
Today, 90 per cent of those who prevailed on Fayemi to pick Oyebanji have been declared persona non grata in his government because he chooses to pay their good deeds with evil. Though, it serves them right because some of us warned them about the slippery and pretentious lifestyle of Oyebanji, but they rejected the warnings.
Even in the face of this open disdain, Fayemi has continued to rein in his followers and enjoined them to swallow the pill, because according to him, “Ekiti State is bigger than every individual. Therefore, in the interest of the people, peace must be given a chance”.
Oyebanji has been romancing and milling around all perceived political enemies of Fayemi in Ekiti State in a bid to show that he is better than JKF. Though, he did more than that to Fayemi and his wife, Erelu, for years just to curry their favour. Therefore, the new friends should beware. He practically worshiped and adored the couple, and every other person close to them at the time to achieve his aim of getting their approval and endorsement. After achieving his aim, now, he is deliberately setting the people against Fayemi.
Oyebanji’s romance with his new friends is simply a deliberate game to use them for his second term aspiration. The new friends should be reminded of the dangers in taking Oyebanji’s friendship seriously, not forgetting that once he gets his second term ticket, he is capable of ditching whatever promise or agreement he may have had with any of them. He has done it before and he will surely do it again.
As aforementioned, there is no opposition in Ekiti State today because the number of PDP members on the payroll of the government exceeds the total number of political appointees from the APC. Is it not surprising that the likes of Ayo Fayose and Lere Olayinka are now the frontline defenders of the Oyebanji’s government. The governor gets positive review daily while the people wallow in abject poverty. Governance in Ekiti State has been reduced to cash and carry affair. So far, Oyebanji keeps paying the pipers; he will continue to dictate the tunes.
Today, there is peace and tranquillity in Ekiti State because God so loves Ekiti State that He blessed Ekiti State with John Kayode Fayemi and made him the first governor to install a predecessor. If Fayose were to be in the shoes of Fayemi, Ekiti would have been boiling at a scale that would pale into insignificance, the troubling political situation in Rivers State. Fayemi is such a statesman that places the interest and wellbeing of Ekiti-people far and above personal interest.
The patriotic instinct of Fayemi may sustain his present composure and strengthen the peace in Ekiti State. But, can Fayemi control the Osatuyi brothers who are in every ward and LGA of Ekiti State, and are heavily pregnant with bottled up anger? Every discerning member of the cabal in the government of Oyebanji is aware of this undeniable fact. Unfortunately, they are power drunk for now and care less. The oppositions you are pampering may not be able to save you when the Osatuyis’ induced implosion hits the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress.
Babajide Adejumo Omotoso (BAO) writes from Atikankan, Ado Ekiti.
