By: Oluwatosin Ogunkuade (Jasper)
Ikogosi Ekiti
By October 16, 2022, there will definitely be a handing over of baton to another runner of government in Ekiti State. Much have been argued and said in the expectation and outcome of the June 18 Governorship elections.
Some have said that it is a race between three Governors in the state, Chief Segun Oni , Ayo Fayose and the current Dr. John Kayode Fayemi (CON). As much as I always love to talk less and act more, I think that it is profitable to salvage the minds and save the heads of debaters that the gubernatorial election is already won by the APC and its candidate Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.
I do not join issues with people, but I must say this so that Ekiti people and the undecided voters can focus more their support for who God has annointed. Interestingly, It would be a great Joy that Governor Kayode Fayemi becomes the first Governor in the state to hand over leadership to a successor of people’s actual choice and a progressive man to the core.
This is not to taunt your mind. My position is premised on the sure facts that Ekiti people are not dullards, we know what is right and will never succumb to deception. The leadership of John Kayode Fayemi in his first and second terms has opened wide our minds, here in Ekiti and Nigeria in general to what quality leadership entails.
Fayemi has this eagle eye under his glasses to spot quality, honest and selfless individuals against the hoipolohoi and the “MARIMAJEs” parading themselves as politicians. All the deputy Governors that have worked with Fayemi are accomplished people starting from the Late (Chief) Adunni Olayinka, Prof. Modupe Adelabu and the current Deputy Governor Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi.
These are people who incredibly worked well and reminded to fulfill Fayemi’s electoral promises. Even when Fayemi had no other duty than to provide Good Governance, Infrastructure, Industrial, Education and Human Capital Development, Modernize Agriculture, quality Healthcare Service delivery, Tourism development, promotion of Gender Equality and eradication of disparities, as well as Empowerment, Fayemi’s cabinets had never made him sleep nor given him an aperture for relaxation or siesta.
He is always up for work, sacrificing and striving with vigour towards the restoration of Ekiti Values.
Thanks to God, the results are clear enough even to the doubting Thomases. Just like the majority of EKiti people, this pendulum know what is best and has decided to stay without swinging. Fayemi’s works are speaking for the continuity of APC in Ekiti State.
As if that isn’t enough, the personality of APC candidate Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, is unmatched among other contestants. This is while I pitch my tent with APC, we are very strategic, APC will never field a dummy, arse licker or shoe kissers.
Oyebanji had spent 11 active years contributing to the growth of the state and leadership in different capacities. He has links with the past, the present and he looks beyond tomorrow after tommorow to safeguard the future of our children.
BAO is a home-grown politician with much local and international exposures. Give it to him, he has wealth of experience in teaching, banking, legislation and community relations, economy, budgeting, students and youth development, transformation and strategy, motivation and reward system and most especially good governance.
I am not surprised at the mammoth crowd and genuine supports and empathy that Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is receiving both from people within the State and those in diaspora day in day out ahead the Ekiti guber poll. He is a no doubt a peacemaker and accepted candidate and the best amongst others.
The All Progressive Congress (APC), as a party, has adopted every internal mechanism in managing and resolving disputes emerging from clashes in political interests. Other aspirants at the primaries have openly declared supoort for Oyebanji while discussions are still on-going to harmonize every political interest.
How do I say it all here in just a piece?
In Ekiti today, Youths development and inclusion in governance is a reality. Women now have the same leverage with their male counterparts.
Infact, the choice of Chief (Mrs) Monisade Christianah Afuye as a running late to BAO speaks volume. All the political office holder both at the Federal and the state levels starting from the Honourable Minister, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Ambassador, the 2 -Senators, 6 Members of House of Representatives, 25 Members of House of Assembly, 35 LGA/LCDA Chairmen, 177 Ward Councilors, Commissioners, SA/SSA, Directors, Supervisors and other Zonal and other appointees have pursued the mandate of EKiti Development agenda and had performed excellently.
For me, all these are enough to give BAO a convenient win at the contest even though Ekiti people must be at alert and vigilant at not allowing the rigging business men to merchant our franchise anymore.
All the office holders should man their polling units, wards, LGA/LCDA and constituencies to ensure that wools are not pulled into the eyes of EKiti people come June 18, 2022.
There have been street referencing about the purported new third force of SDP as the conference of greedy and selfish politicians on personal gain Mission. For me, politics is a game of interest as everyone is bond to have ambition and look for means of actualizing same.
But the truth of the fact is that most of the political formations and supposed gladiators moving to third force are overrated politicians are resting too much on their old oars and biming in old glories not knowing that Ekiti people are not as fool as they thought.
They have forgotten so quickly that young and active youths are gradually taking political stage even when they have in their own time denied the youth of inclusion.
As for PDP in Ekiti State, never again will Ekiti people go back to Egypt, an era where you cannot proudly boast of being an indigene of the Fountain of Knowledge.
I keep wondering what kind of political ideology Ekiti PDP follows. The social contract that any Party can sign with the electorate is trust. I doubt if 10% of EKiti people have genuine trust in the leadership of the Party. They could not trust them again with the resources of the state as many street talkers believe that even their campaign fund would be mismanaged by the Cashout
Ekiti June 18, 2022 governorship election is a done deal for APC. The votes of the women and traders, private and businessmen, youths and students, transporters and artisans, teachers, civil servants, pensioners, farmers and even the votes on the streets are for Oyebanji, BAO and Afuye, MCA.
We are out en masse to campaign and speak to the many achievements of APC under the administration of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi (Ilufemiloye 1) and the agenda of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (Oni Uyi) in sustaining the good legacies and securing the future.
Ekiti people, please hold your ground firm and resist any cacophony of deceit; If you are not yet with us, join us today as we are confident of victory.
Ogunkuade Oluwatosin (Jasper) Kosere writes from Ikogosi Ekiti.