By Dr Aruleba Oke
Ekiti State in Nigeria ranks first among the states that pride themselves with the best brains.
This unique quality, I opine should translate into political finesse for the land of dignity and honour.
Our dear own state grapples with a concatenation of socio-economic and political challenges. Successive regimes in Ekiti have in varying degrees subjected our Noble State to intensive revival and rejuvenations.
Simply stated, the current administration no hype, inherited a groundswell of political and economic challenges which he and his rescue squad are doing everything positive to make Ekiti an enviable State.
It is imperative at this juncture, to zero in on some of the challenges that need to be further addressed for the political equation in Ekiti State to be rethought and redesigned.
The zoning arrangement is one of the challenges of Ekiti. Zoning arrangement for political office holders was originally born out of good intentions as a child of expediency to enable every zone in the country to effectively participate in the political processes as well as have a feel of power sharing and total inclusion in the political affairs of Nigeria.
As good as the rationale behind zoning arrangement is, it is fraught with discontent and this usually results in protest votes or mass movement of political decampees from one political party to the other.
Put simply, the political class has placed high premium on the concept of zoning not minding whether it produces effective leaders or not. All you will hear is: “It is our turn to produce this or that.” It is high time we shunned the politics of anything goes!
The former American President, Barrack Obama once told the pundits: “ there is not a Black America, and a white America, Latino America and Asian America but the United States of America.
It is on this note that I wish to say that there is no South Ekiti, East Ekiti, North Ekiti West or Central Ekiti but the United Ekiti State(EkitiParapo).
Zoning arrangement must not becloud our sense of patriotism and nationalism.The concept of Continuity is grossly misinterpreted by many political pundits and laymen to mean a ploy by the incumbent to perpetuate himself in power through a stooge or puppet governor.
The momentum of development in Ekiti state no doubt, will be hindered if there is no continuity or succession plan.
The continuity agenda should be holistically and positively x-rayed using the optics of politics played in the refinest form. No patriotic citizenry will jettison a Winning Team like the incumbent Governor of Ekiti state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Governor Fayemi has carved a niche for Ekiti State. He has succeeded in initiating and completing new projects. He also completed abandoned projects in the State. He carved his welfarist teeth like Parka. He is a governor that is worthy of emulation .
Therefore, Continuity should be encouraged where the incumbent administration of Governor Fayemi has unfinished people-oriented projects at the expiration of his tenure.
The person who takes charge of the affair of Ekiti State therefore should be a home-groomed politician who knows the yearnings and aspirations as well as the nitty-gritty of good governance.
Nay, Ekiti project must be handed over to an insider who in a twinkling of an eye will swing into action to give the teeming electorate the dividends of democracy not an outsider or just a passer-by.
In the light of the aforementioned, the choice of the APC gubernatorial candidate, BANJI Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO a seasoned administrator cum technocrat and the Deputy Governor, the blue-blooded Princess Chief Monisade Christianah Afuye, MCA an Ikere born political Amazon with the Midas Touch, is the greatest gift to Ekiti state now that Ekiti needs a great and visionary and proactive successor to our Amiable Governor Fayemi.
BAO/MCA are tested and visionary leaders who will surely deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizenry and propel the glory of Ekiti State to the forefront.
(Dr Aruleba Oke ,
A university lecturer,
Ikere Ekiti Indigene
08027906799
leorexinitiatives@gmail.com)
Nice one.
BAO/MCA is the answer.