“Iku to n pa ojugba eni, owe lo n pa fun ni.” Meaming the death of one’s neighbour is speaking in parable to us.
While the outgoing Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose won his comeback bid in 2014, “defeating” the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi with all conspiracy theories on the table; he began to think that he wielded power of life and death and that he had finally captured the mind of Ekiti kete. Yes, he pretended to be glorifying his Lord, but his gubernatorial arrogance points to overconfidence.
Instead of facing governance, he chose a calling for himself-THE OPPOSITION LEADER, firing salvos against President Muhammadu Buhari and his immediate predecessor, Kayode Fayemi from all cylinders. Whereas, workers, students, artisans and citizens were yearning for good governance.
Fayose thought eating “booli” roasted plantain at the roadside or “amala” at “mama-put” could be substituted for good governance people desired. He even deployed the antics of demonizing Fayemi as the devil who hauled Ekiti into his misadventure of governance.
When the time to pick a successor came, Fayose thought his word is law in Ekiti, he singlehandedly chose his deputy, a Professor who attempted to stoop to conquer, but ended up setting question mark on his professorship through his below-the-par display of intellectual profile. Do i blame him? No, it takes an antics of monkey to catch a monkey.
Interestingly, members and leaders of his party wanted a popular candidate for governorship, candidate they know, a candidate they can relate with, but Fayose believes his choice must be their choice; he behaves as if the lives of his people revolve round his whims and caprices and that the power of choice belongs to him. He carries himself like god of Ekiti and courts Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to minimize the future political damage. Alas, the people of Ekiti waited for the politicians who have taken them for granted in the last four years patiently.
When the electoral umpire blew the whistle, the thoroughly marginalized people, angry party leaders and members eventually passed their judgment with their thumbs; by the time the verdict was delivered, a governor with power of life and death, a political god is reduced to a mere mortal: a drenched dog with his tail between his legs and in the next few days, he may have his day with Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
As from now, the aides who claim to be loyal to their oga will begin to falter, the politicians who look unto Fayose for direction will begin to badmouth him and the so called popularity and street credibility will now become objects of ridicule.
This is not about Fayose, it is the way life is calibrated. The PDP will now move from ruling party status to deserted opposition party; the key to government house will now change hand and the loyal aides, Commissioners, Special Advisers will in a matter of days become men of yesterday. End of the story.
Now, the same drama is going on in Osun and the fate of the people in power who are gallivanting around with aim of ramming a disputed governorship candidate in the throat of their party men would be decided in the next few days by the electorate who are watching their majestic arrogance patiently.
“Saa laa ni, enikan o laye o”.
Strictly my own opinion.
Goke Butika is the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Osun State.
