By Wasiu Owolewa
There have been yearnings over the years in Ekiti for an homegrown person to pilot the affairs of the state.
Those behind this agitation believe that an homegrown person will have a clear and better understanding about the people to govern and how to meet up with their demands.
Since the inception of democratic rule in Ekiti state beginning from 1999, those that had been fortunate to govern the state were not homegrown but individuals that have lived most of their life outside the state.
Some people are of opinion that an homegrown politician can not do better than foreign based politician. They believe that foreign based politicians with their international exposure will work some miracle in act of governance than home based politicians.
When it comes to choice of leadership, foreign based politicians are usually given top priority. This has been a great discouragement to our homegrown politicians. It makes them look inferior and incapable to govern a state like Ekiti.
Though the governors we have had in Ekiti since 1999 tried their possible best to transform the state to what is it today. They used their international exposure and connection to bring development to the state but were not in much constant touch with the people at the grassroot.
The hope that has been lost for any homegrown to attain the highest level of authority in Ekiti seems to have been redeemed with the emergence of an homegrown, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji popularly called BAO as governor-elect of Ekiti state.
According to the remark of His Excellency, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi during the inauguration of the transition committee and advisory council on 26th June described BAO as, “An experienced public administrator, who is well educated, well exposed and a true homegrown son of the soil who has his fingers on the pulse of yearnings of Ekiti people”
The emergence of Mr Oyebanji as governor-elect serves as beacon of hope for any homegrown politician to attain the highest level of authority in our dear state, Ekiti.
This will be the first time an homegrown will be taking over the mantle of leadership in Ekiti state since its creation twenty two years ago.
The victory of BAO at the poll was like a divine intervention and answer to a long time prayer for an homegrown to take over the mantle of leadership in Ekiti state.
BAO’s victory is also a test run to know whether something good can come out from the Nazareth of an homegrown person.
Now that an homegrown has emerged as governor, questions that will keep on arising are that, will there be a better performance in act of governance than before? Will an homegrown be a match in act of governance with a foreign based? Will it open a door of opportunity for another homegrown to govern the state or shut it finally?
The performance of BAO after his swearing-in on October 16 will answer all these questions.