How Afe Babalola, Kayode Adaramodu See Ekiti State

Sunday Olubunmi, an indigene of Ekiti State expresses his concerns about who will succeed Governor Kayode Fayemi in 2022

I was going through the usual seasonal speeches and messages for this year’s Nigeria’s independence and Ekiti State at 25 celebrations. Most of them are mere repetitions, wishful thinking and fallacies of history.

But out of the lot, two stood out! The two are devoid of self deception and delusion, characteristic of this period. They both show sincere desire to admit that there are lapses, yawning gaps between expectations and actual deliveries. Between what the actual is and what it can be. They show genuine concerns and expressed the uneasiness of those who are truly committed to the overall well-being of Ekiti State. Fortunately, their proprietors represent two remarkable divides. As in one handling the batton of continuity to the other.

The two pieces are from Aare Afe Babalola (a critical contributor to the Ekiti Agenda), and Kayode Adaramodu (an Ekiti enthusiast and a PDP governorship aspirant in the Ekiti 2022 election). The two pieces are recommended for readers. To me, it shows there’s hope for Ekiti if we could just do the right thing.

One of the reasons sick people get healed in our health facilities is that, medical personnel don’t engage in gambling or assumptions or window dressing. They try to be as clinically exact as possible, going into the very root of the problem through laboratory tests and investigations; armed with verifiable facts, they determine the best way to solve the problem and then boldly (not blindly) embark on prescribed procedures. No rhetorics. No trying to impress. No lethargy or inaction. No pretence. No cajoling.

* They admit there’s a challenge
* They identify the challenge
* They find out the cause and cost
* They prescribe solution
* They take informed action

But, one fact must be noted: each aspect of the procedure is handled by appropriate personnel. There’s no impulse, no emotion, no sentiment; life is involved.

That’s why I am also pleading passionately to all stakeholders in Ekiti to get involved in next leadership recruitment of a governor for Ekiti. The process has started. Let all lovers of Ekiti, especially those who have invested all or most of their resources to secure good life for Ekiti get interested and be involved.

For now and to the best of my knowledge, Kayode Adaramodu presents the best credential and option for the job. His deep understanding of the challenges confronting the state and how to tackle them frontally is convincing and enticing. In some of his releases that I have read and interviews I have listened to, it’s clear he knows that it’s not going to be a jamboree and no unprepared person can make any meaningful impact. He usually says a prayer that God should give the best to Ekiti. So, after reading his Independence Day speech, I interrogated his exposition and suggestion the more. I inquired if he is really ready to subject himself to the scrutiny and rigorous selection processes jeopardizing his comfort zone? The findings really dazed me – His response is from a Bible verse “Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens,” Jeremiah 10:11.
“Sir, did you notice that the Almighty GOD was sure of Himself?” I said yes? He continued, “Sir, what I am saying is that whosoever will have a negative impact on Ekiti, someone with selfish, injurious, ignoble intentions, God will prevent him/her at all cost from getting the governorship seat.”

According to him, 25 years ought to have produced greater visible results if all stakeholders had shown involvement and supervision of the affairs of the State.

Read Baba’s view. Note the sincerity. Note the heartfelt pain and feeling of unfulfillment relative to the actualization of the Ekiti dreams. The founding fathers had their projections. But as things stand now, it’s obvious these dreams have remained unfulfilled.

Now that we have an aspirant working with the sense of history, also eminently qualified by all standards and well prepared, all well meaning, opinion leaders, stakeholders from all strata; in fact, all and sundry should embrace and endorse him, and work for his emergence as next governor of Ekiti in 2022.

Through him, it is certain that the dreams of the founding fathers of Ekiti State will be fulfilled.

*Olubunmi writes from Ado-Ekiti