By Oke Aruleba @Deprof
The Ekiti political space in history has never been so benevolent to any political gladiator irrespective of his or her political acumen and standing.
Put simply, given the volatility and the level of erudition of an average Ekiti indigene, Ekiti politics is such that its permutations and predictability will easily elude the greatest political pundits of our time.
Interestingly, BAO/MCA’s electoral fortune in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ekiti State clearly showed that there was a paradigm shift in Ekiti political calculations and permutations.
Prior to the D-day, any political neophyte or greenhorn would easily be swayed by the authouritatively convincing and well- structured political propaganda that Chief Segun Oni of SDP, by the law of all averages, would storm to victory in June 18, Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti.
As the clock ticked towards Ekiti Gubernatorial Election day, the entire Ekiti landscape was a beehive of political activities. The electorate at once became the beautiful brides to be courted by the aspirants vying for the Oke Ayoba plum job. Nocturnal political meetings and visits by the gubernatorial aspirants to the grassroots also became more frequent and intense in order to canvass votes.
The electorate were spread-eagled on the rack of doubt and apprehension due to some pockets of violence resulting in loss of lives but they waited patiently and anxiously for the day when Ekiti would decide via their ballots.
It was Saturday, June 18, 2022 in Ekiti State. An aura of tranquility pervaded the entire political landscape of Ekiti State. It was time for the eligible voters to exercise their rights to franchise. And the electorate’s fingers kissed the ballot sheets. More fingers kissed the ballot sheets in favour of BAO/MCA. And the duo finally coasted home to victory at the end of the voting exercise. Regrettably, the pundits’ scale of electoral permutations and forecast tilted in the negative direction!
BAO/MCA’s victory dramatically changed the narrative in Ekiti State. And the political mistletoes began to spin strings of concocted stories ranging from vote-buying accusation to derelictions of duty and compromises on the parts of the security agents.
“Let the man without a SIN CAST the FIRST STONE”
The truth needs be told and carved with gold and granite on the sand of time that when the duo of BAO and MCA alongside party faithfuls were busy embarking on issue-based electioneering campaigns, unveiling and selling the party’s Manifestoes of Hope and Restoration to the Electorate using the laudable achievements of the incumbent, Dr John Kayode Fayemi as a point of reference, the political hunksters and jobbers were busy spurning hate campaigns and satanic verses cum imprecatory utterances.
By the natural law of Cause and Effect, hardwork and sound political strategies must create an endless positive ripple in terms of a well-deserved victory at the polls such that BAO/MCA earned in the last Election in Ekiti State.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to ask what magic wand did BAO/MCA deploy to achieve such a resounding victory in Ekiti, a politically volatile State with a groundswell of eggheads, where CONTINUITY AGENDAS severally have been dealt with lethal blows at incubatory stages.
The answer to this mind-boggling question is not farfetched as it is is etched in this moving composition which is intended to essentially and primarily acknowledge GOD ALMIGHTY, the OWNER of the Universe and everything therein, as the BIGGEST REASON for BAO/MCA’s Victory in the last election.
Secondly, this write -up is dedicated to those who made BAO/MCA’s VICTORY possible – the KNOWN SKILLFUL PILOTS who sat at the CONTROLS as BAO’s SPACECRAFT soared into orbits as well as the UNKNOWN GROUND CREWS.
No doubt, many political gladiators (DREAM- MAKERS) were divinely used as Archers in God’s Archery to propel BAO/MCA into a resounding victory at June 18 gubernatorial polls in Ekiti State.
Prominent amongst such HUMAN ARCHERS was the BIGGEST FISH in the tidal Ocean of Nigerian politics, nay, the author of “EMI LOKAN THEORY” in NIGERIAN POLITICS, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose vital role in BAO/MCA’s electoral fortune in Ekiti cannot be wished away.
Big thanks to our dear own Master Strategist, JAGABAN of NIGERIAN POLITICS. No doubt, he lent his political weight to BAO/MCA’s electoral success in Ekiti.
Dr John Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi were untiring political actor and actress, who never stopped at WINNING Electorate for BAO’s Ark but assiduously worked day and night to ensure that BAO/MCA’s Ark birthed safely and victoriously at Oke Ayoba Seat of Power in Ekiti State. Long live the duo of JKF and Erelu Bisi Fayemi !
The entire APC squad in Ekiti State is quintessentially formidable! Sound political leadership cum synergized issues-based campaigns were the potent result-driven tools in the political archery of APC leaders and party faithfuls that delivered BAO’s Victory.
It is equally worthy to note that while BAO’s APC towed the line of decency and justice by eschewing politics of acrimony and electoral violence, some gubernatorial aspirants and their followers were busy treating teeming Ekiti electorate to a full dosage of campaigns of calumnies and innuendoes.
Succinctly put, APC conducted her political activities on the high plane of dignity and discipline via meeting provocations and PHYSICAL FORCE with SOUL FORCE.
Little wonder, APC was able to hold her head all through to victory when others were losing theirs !
BAO/MCA eventually sang the redemptive song of VICTORY at last!
Audacity of Courage is something unique that BAO exhibited during the EKITI GUBERNATORIAL ASPIRANTS DEBATE. He remained unruffled and was able to give in-depth and satisfactory answers to all the questions the MODERATOR asked him.
It is no hype that that millions of his viewers were held in a spell bound capacity at the professional and tactical manner in which BAO rounded off his speech by giving an apt précise of his Manifestoes of Hope and Restoration.
Testimonies abound that his practical display of tact, grit courage, and a high level of erudition in Governance largely accounted for his outstanding victory in Ekiti GUBERNATORIAL election.
The Deputy- Governor elect, prior to her electoral success at the polls, had embarked on an unprecedented campaign tour of Ikere, her home town and other towns in Ekiti. She did not take anything or her opponents for granted in spite of the fact that she was running for an electoral office in a familiar political terrain.
She consistently and rigorously embarked on the house to house, compound to compound, campaigns in Ikere Ekiti where, Dr Oluyede, the ADC Gubernatorial Flagbearer and a strong contender for Ikere votes hails from . The dividends of Chief Monisade Afuye’s concerted efforts were made manifest as she floored Dr Oluyede in his polling booth and ward.
In the mould of a royal Amazon, the Deputy-Governor elect’s final charge to her party members and supporters across the State penultimate the election was laden with the AUDACITY of COURAGE. She knew that Ikere usually is a Swing town the politics of which is characterized by intrigues and surprises:
” Work harder and consistently. I am positive that you will deliver Ikere and Ekiti State for BAO/MCA and APC”
The Blueblood Princess further enthused : ” I am a WOMAN with COURAGE. Yes I always make a MAJORITY. Victory is certain!
In the light of the aforementioned, many factors came to play in BAO/MCA’s victory in Ekiti Gubernatorial election. Moreover, whatever situation we find ourselves in life, we must be courageous !
Oke Aruleba @Deprof.