“And this will surely create an endless ripple in terms of people returning trust and respect for him”
By
Dr. Oke Aruleba (with contributions from Gbenga Sodeinde)
Many people from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria have attempted to unravel the deep secrets of Dr John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State but no single one has succeeded in getting an inch near one of his secrects.
It is worthy of note that one of such pundits in his futile attempt to justify his deep-dive knowledge of the Ishan Ekiti born political heavyweight, boastfully went dialectal in the biographical narratives of our amiable governor Fayemi.:
” Mo mo Kayode Omo aba Fayemi lu ‘Shan Ekiti bi mo se mo ateleo mi “, meaning” I know Kayode the son of a teacher, late Pa Francis Falade Fayemi in Ishan Ekiti as I know the colour of my palms.”
Knowing Dr Fayemi as a person is not a neccesary and sufficient condition for knowing his deepest Secrets! Only the deep can comb the deep!While it is immodest to play God about knowing Dr Kayode Fayemi, I wish to say that his character will be perfectly delineated using the optics of objectivity.
Dr Kayode Fayemi can be aptly described as “Omoluwabi ponbele”. meaning ” a well-bred Ekiti man.”He was fostered to growth and stardom by God , nature and nurture.Governor Kayode Fayemi is a man of integrity, which is the hallmark of a leader.
His actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.As a man of integrity, he stands along a weighing balance. He stands for his belief.
He is naturally imbued with tenacity of purpose , he is a non-compromising leader who does not, for whatever reasons: political or economical, make empty promises, or take short-cuts.
In short, Dr Fayemi as a born leader places a high premium on thoughts and actions that will collectively benefit the led far and above personal gains.
Put succinctly, Dr Fayemi is an epitome of selflessness. It is quite obvious that he has delivered on his electoral promises to Ekiti people.
And this will surely create an endless ripple in terms of people returning trust and respect for him.Dr Fayemi stands out in the areas of problem-solving skills.
On his assumption of office as the governor of Ekiti State, he was able to identify and define the challenges on ground.
The spectrum of leadership responsibilities he ingeniously evolved in solving the long standing challenges of Ekiti is numero uno and results -oriented.
No doubt, this unique gift is crying to be fully tapped to the advantage of a Nation in distress!His innovativeness as a leader, opens him up to new and creative ideas .
He is such an amazingly exemplary leader sitting with a glowing bulb in his hand to illuminate and motivate others to think out of the box.
He is not a leader with a morbid self-aggrandizement.Dr Kayode Fayemi is a visionary leader to the core. As a leader, he is endowed with more foresight than the led. Put simply, he is far-sighted and driven by what Ekiti State should become.
Little wonder, he was able to surmount the groundswell of socio-economic and political challenges confronting Ekiti State.
The same monumental feat Dr Fayemi can achieve for Nigerians at this crucial moment Nigeria needs to BREATHE.
He is a resilient leader who in the words of Jesse Jackson of America, is tough enough to fight as Dr Fayemi clearly demonstrated by putting his life on the line during the NADECO struggles to save Nigeria from drifting into anarchy and despotism; tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving as he clearly demonstrated when he lost his re-election bid to PDP.
One biggest lesson he learnt from his election loss was hinged on coping with betrayals and that men by their Adamic nature have no permanent allies or foes in politics but one permanent interest of feathering one’s nest.
Dr Kayode Fayemi is not only an empathetically perceptive man who relates to and connects to people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering them but also a highly accountable personality.
His accoutability which is made manifest in all the departments of his endeavour is the glue that ties commitments to the positive results he has achieved in Ekiti State.
He is a people’s man. He earns trust and respect across all political divides. This unique value accounts for his being elected as the Chairman of the Nigeria’s governors forum.
He is tech-savvy as well as an excellent and effective communicator of the highest order. His oratory prowess is cast in the mould of his name sake, John F. Kennedy, the late American President and Martin Luther King Junior to mention but a few.He imbibes useful lessons from the life and deeds of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Being a product of the late Sage’s tutelage has immensely positioned him in an auspicious position to take charge of the Presidency of our great Nation.
One unique thing I love about Dr Fayemi is his high level of his communicative and linguistic competence.
He is the wordsmith of our time!He is lettered. His being an avid reader automatically gravitates him to the realm of a leader.
His learnedness has immensely boosted his native intelligence for the Herculean task of wresting the gauntlets of our dear nation from the grip of political jobbers.He is self-disciplined, honest, incorruptible, caring, and ready to learn.
His listening ability is unparralelled. Needless to say that his propensity to empower his team is worthy of emulation.
The current search for the competent hand to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari of APC is intense.
The polity has witnessed concerted activities geared towards clinching the Aso Rock plumb job.
No doubt, at the moment, Nigeria is in dire need of a visionary and proactive leader, who will take her out of the labyrinths of socio-economic and political woods.
Many political gladiators from diverse political parties are jostling for the job of Nigerian First Citizen.
At this juncture, it is imperative to liken the current political activities in the polity to that of the patriarchal lineage of the biblical Jesse, whose handsomely built children displayed gaiety and natural physiognomy to be anointed King of Israel by Prophet Samuel.
Disappointingly, none of the tall and good-looking scions of Jesse were anointed king because in the mundane order of events, much premium is given to the physical.
The youngest of them, the shepherd boy, David, who by all parameters was least qualified to aspire to the royal stool of Israel, was recalled from the forest while tendering his father’s sheep, and got anointed king of Israel.
No doubt, many political juggernauts have been crisscrossing the entire Nigerian land space consulting with the people that latter for their blessings on their ambition of becoming the Nigerian President.
By the natural law of franchise, every sane and crime-free citizen of Nigeria can aspire to any political office, the young and the old.
But the million –dollar question is: who is most qualified to clean the Nigeria’s Augean Stable at the moment the nation reeks of putrefaction?
Considering the sterling and impeccably incorruptible leadership qualities Dr JK Fayemi possesses, it is not a misnomer to say that he has the prerequisites to lead the Nigerian populace come 2023.
His governance performance sheet in Ekiti is quintessential and this speaks volumes for his competency. He is full of life , vigour and quick -witted.
He is iconically intelligent, proactive and highly cerebral.Nigeria cannot afford to hand over its beautiful life saving projects to the club of septu-ocogenarian men anymore.
Governance is not a cakewalk affairs; It is a serious business.
It is a universal truth that a man cannot travel far in life walking on one leg.
The wife of the incumbent, Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has been, after God, a pillar of support for Governor Fayemi. Her humanitarian activities attest to the fact Dr Fayemi ‘s presidency will be of immense benefits to the Nigerian populace.
Having thoroughly explored the deepest secrets of Dr Fayemi vis-a-vis his credentials and the fact that he has creditably passed the governance fitness test, the hour has come for our Amiable Dr John Kayode Fayemi to arise as a compatriot and obey the Clarion call to save this Nation from further drifting into precipe!
(Dr. Oke Aruleba, a University Lecturer. An indigene of Ikere Ekiti 08027906799
leorexinitiatives@gmail.com).
(Gbenga Sodeinde, a journalist writes from Ado-Ekiti.08035757938 sodeindevictor6@gmail.com).