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| Ayodele Fayose |
DEMOCRACY all over the world triumphs where the majority has
the way, the minority clearly air their views or their say. This therefore
underscores the splendour of the system. However, the views from the
opposition’s side determine how serious those that constitute the majority will
take them.
It is important to note that opposition is quite different
from noise-making. The essence of opposition is to give a direction to the
government and not to become cantankerous and loquacious as in the market
places. In the civilized society, it pays more for an opposition to remain
silent than be talking for talking sake. Opposition is not a child’s play but a
serious business.
As a matter of fact, societies develop rapidly through a
strong and viable opposition which serves as a watchdog to the government as
well as a positive stakeholder in the society.
Regrettably, utterances by the Ekiti State governor, Governor
Ayodele Fayose as well as the Director of Publicity, Peoples Democratic Party
Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode against the present ruling
government since inauguration, perhaps in pursuit for relevance leave much to
be desired.
Objectively, Fayose does not represent a desirable leadership
of a 21st century by his uncivilized quarrelsome attitudes rather a
threat to democracy. His understanding on leadership is reducing Nigeria’s
democracy to mediocrity and noise-making. The masses earnestly need innovations
and actions, and not confrontation. If confrontation were to be part of
governance, all the public funds lavished in conducting the election should not
have been wasted.
After the economic summit organized by the National Economic
Council to charge of various state governments to align with the policy of the
federal government, Fayose rather than making an input at the summit only came
out to toe his usual line by condemnation forgetting that it was aimed to
charge up state governors to look inwards in their respective states towards identifying
areas to venture into in view of the diversification of the economy.
The question to the governor is what does he plan to present
to the Ekiti State people at the end of his tenure as dividends of democracy
that accrued during his tenure or can the people accept photographs of a
governor on a motorcycle or eating roadside roasted plantain as dividends?
One expected that Fayose could have made presentation at the
summit to gove direction on how to move the country out of the present crisis
brought about by the maladministration of the previous governments. The
governor should stop taking Nigerians for a ride. An elected state governor
cannot analogously reduce himself to a quarrelsome market woman at the detriment
of his state.
Interestingly, Chief Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra State
who won the yearly award recently also belongs to an opposition party, yet,
organized and calculated. No one needs to be convinced that despite his
interest in another party, the federal government will not hesitate to listen
and consider his observations in governance. Similarly, other governors had
excelled and made remarkable marks during their respective tenures, thereby
adding values to the state.
To call spade a spade, Fayose feels insecured and incapable
of adding value to his state. With all the newspapers advertorials sponsored by
the governor against the President Buhari-federal government, basic amenities
that are nowhere to be found in the state may remain in the same position till
a new administration comes on board. Pertinently, this clearly shows that to
“win” an election is quite different from service delivery.
Similarly, Fani Kayode teamed up with Fayose to force the
President to make comment on the killings by Fulani herdsmen. No doubt, the
actions are condemnable. However, the President’s verbal comments will not
solve the problem, rather may escalate it. A good father cannot meet his
children fighting rather than taking actions to counter the crisis, he will
first concentrate in condemning a party which is capable of motivating the
other to go on retaliation. What the President needs to do is to put machinery
in place to halt the calamity.
To this end, with a deep sense of patriotism, I urge Fayose
to emulate Governor Obiano of Anambra State rather than causing confusions and
unnecessary tensions in the society. Propaganda could be considered during
campaigns but out of place when retained after inauguration. Obviously, Ekiti people do
not deserve these shameful treats from the governor.
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