Ekiti folks are proper Nigerians. Those who hail you today can nail you tomorrow. If you have been nailed before, you can still be hailed by the same set of people. When people talk about former Governor Niyi Adebayo, you’ll be told how he loved partying and hardly had time for good governance. That’s why the young cool guy who showed kindness by supplying free water and other goodies to Ekiti sons and daughters was considered a good replacement. Former governor Ayodele Fayose crawled into the saddle.
Ekiti jubilated.
Osoko’s manners estranged him to the Ekiti elites. This emperor could talk to and harass any king or noble. Clampdown on perceived political opponents and other complaints led many to believe he had hand in the death of some strong opposition voices. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency. Has Osokomole forgiven Obj? I know not but one thing I know is that when Osoko lost the throne, Ekiti Jubilated.
After the interregnum and a cerebral gentleman seen to be focused and a steady goal-getter, Segun Oni became the governor in 2007, Ekiti jubilated.
However, not long afterwards, the people began to miss the dramas of the restless Osoko. Oni was too slow and rather strict for them. While trying to gain more relevance, a former NADECO fellow, like a dog with the support of learned hunters pulled down the monkeys in Oni’s government. Ekiti jubilated.
While consulting for Ekiti on revenue generation, I was told of the likelihood of Fayemi losing the next election as he concentrated on building infrastructure and neglected stomach infrastructure. Our people wanted a man of the people, ebora to n je jollof (the man who would eat booli by the road side)“Absalomically” stole their hearts. Fayemi lost. No! He lost woefully!
Why? He asked teachers to write exams and be evaluated. No more special study centres. His strategy for training needs analysis backfired. His insistence that kings, workers (academics in particular) should pay correct taxes was an anathema. He had committed a taboo and he must be disgraced with his Lagos phonetic ideas. Fayemi was humiliated by the PDP-led Federal Government and the protests of “C-evil” servants while Ekiti jubilated and capitulated.
Fayose was back in the hotel suite like a pig reborn. He appointed commissioner for Stomach Infrastructure. Ekiti had the first overhead bridge while overheads drained the purse. While the world was wondering what was happening, Ekiti jubilated!
The fountain of knowledge looked on in fear as the swine gradually gravitated to its roforofo comfort zone. Ekiti must celebrate Osoko. He dared Buhari and declared war on RUGA and Fulani herdsmen. Who dared look at Sango eyeball to eyeball when he was spitting fire! Ekiti pocketed their reservations and celebrated the Jephthah in Fayose.
Uncle Segun sought a refuge in APC. He was given brooms to sweep out the rags and twisted rods of the umbrella on ground as HE, “Peter the Rock” gained more strength. He decided to rule Ekiti perpetually with the lion of Babylon’s approach of installing a successor. PDP rocked! Boom-e-rannngggg. It was the turn of the Solid Minerals minister to enter the race “Nicodemusly” and use the APC Federal government arsenals to wrench power from governor Fayose.
Did Ekiti jubilate? Some did, some didn’t. Why? A big solid mineral thrown into a lake will produce some noise and ripples. Fayemi’s calculated sudden appearance in the race was a displacement to many.
Segun Oni moved like the prodigal son back home. He was tired of sweeping and wanted a cover from the rain of embarrassment that trailed him. He left the exile of Broom Carriers and came back wielding mended umbrellas. As a first-class graduate, he never expected to fail a primary exam. The lord of the manor aka Osoko pulled the rug under him and replaced his name on the pass list. But for the nearby horse, his fate could have been sealed and ceiled. He fled on the horse believing thereon would he ride to victory.
Fayemi also rallied support and ensured his anointed candidate; BAO should come after him. Grumblers are murmuring. Aggrieved APC folks are one leg in, one leg out as PDP members respond to the toast of the SDP. Is Ekiti jubilating? YES! NO! YES! NO! YES and NO! Neither the ay nor the nay is sure to have it. The fulcrum needs repositioning as it cries for more oil!
Ekiti has carried water as well as oil. Confusion is the order as our oil is undefined. We dare not state the result of our comparisons to avoid embarrassment. Each candidate comes with loaves of promises but different absorbent capacity. Are the breads for us to eat or to wipe the little remaining of our stew so that we have nothing left to usher in yams pounded with our teeth?
Now that progressive rhymes with regressive and our political accent makes it difficult for people to know the difference between jubilate and humiliate, is our oil the palm oil or petrol oil?
The people’s pains are the politicians’ gains. Each administration has mixed adversity with prosperity as people’s tomorrows are stained with sorrows. The blind has no eye to see that the man who is urging him to come along is equally blind.
As Ekiti chooses its next governor soon, we can only pray that the good Lord will make the blind see and cause the deaf to hear. May we no longer accompany Handel Messiah with sekere and agogo. May our dancing steps not follow ballet when the music is rock and roll. May God help us distinguish between white pap and thick nasal drops. May our people be discerning to know whose nama is poison and whose is venison.
