BY DAVID ASAMU
“You cannot do the same thing and expect different results” is a widely used quote, often attributed to Albert Einstein”.
It is imperative, sane and consequential to call a gathering of sound, healthy and clinical minds for a robust discuss in Ekiti as we approach another round of gubernatorial election inorder to either get it right now or forget it forever.
The coming governorship Election in the land of Honour is no doubt going to be a real litmus test for this generation and unborn ones in an attempt to show to the whole Country and probably the rest of the World that are so concerned about Ekiti that, the State values integrity, hardwork, transparency and education among others. Political rhetoric, permutations and mathematical politics will play some major roles especially at calculating puzzles in favour or against the trend of tsunami or if you like call it tidal waves, coming to sweep away some political urchins masquerading around in and outside the State as Politicians, in our present times.
The interest of Ekiti as a State, and its People should be a topmost agenda of any gathering of such while the rest or secondary on the agenda should be a few people called politicians. Therefore, the finest, brilliant, apt and dependable ones among the latter should be assessed through rigorous debates by a group of incorruptible, contented, self-made and materially unimpressed Ekiti people, to include; Businessmen, Students, Civil Servants, Traditional Rulers, religious Leaders, Artisans, fresh Graduates and other stakeholders on what a real development of a Society must be based on, and come up with the yardsticks needed to fast-track the growth and development of a state like Ekiti.
Ekiti, with no apology to our past and current Governors except a Chemical Engineer, Asiwaju Segun Oni has remained bad if not worse under their supervisions. Whereas, their lives have become much more better while living in opulence after leaving Office.
Good! living large or luxuriousness is good, infact to collaborate your views for those who may want to defend their paymasters, an average Governor of any State in Nigeria should ordinarily live opulent life after Office. The peripherals attached to such office ranging from security votes, bogus salaries and allowances, furniture and other emoluments are enough to live in a such unpredictable turnaround lifestyles that Nigerian system of Democracy has awarded the Politicians especially the Governors since they pay themselves.
The point I am trying to driving home at now is gluttonous and insatiable appetite of accumulation of wealth at the detriment of the entire State and its hapless people especially by the Governors in Nigeria and their cohorts in the National Assembly.
Ekiti, the Land of Honour has not been so lucky in terms of leadership needed for the unique transformation expected by its founding fathers from more than 80% of those who had governed the State since it’s creation in 1996. The three Sole Administrators namely; late Mohammed Inua Bawa, Navy Captain Atanda Yussuf and late Adetunji Olurin who were not of Ekiti State should be left out of the loops for whatever wounds the State and its People might have been nursing for a needed development.
However, for the 2026 governorship election, the names that are flying around Ekiti State amongst out of which a new Governor of the State will be crowned are; the Current Governor Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, the current UNN’s Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing council Engr. Kayode Ojo (APC) while on the other hand, in PDP, we have Dr. Wole Oluyede and Dr. Peter Obafemi.
These men are no doubt eminently qualified to be the Governor of Ekiti, but to quote from Animal Farm, “All Animals are equal but some Animals are more equal than Others”.
In the checkered history of Ekiti State since its creation by late Head of State Gen. Sanni Abacha in 1996, nobody across political devide has ever raised his or her hands up to condemn Engr. Segun Oni’s administration in Ekiti between May 2007 and October 2010, apart from strategies deployed by the then opposition parties to seize power from him during the political struggles of his administration.
However, if and if Ekiti State is either cursed or blessed to have an Engineer as a Governor before it could be developed, then the 2026 governorship election is another “open- window” year for the State to get it right through another Engineer of Metallurgical and Materials.
The only name that any wave can transmit into the ossicles of every Individual in the State now and accepted by all is Engr. Kayode Olubunmi Ojo.
Looking at the pedigree, character, action, political sagacity or wizardry, APC will be lucky and blessed to have Engr Kayode Ojo, thoroughbred Technocrat and successful businessman, in its fold.
The name “K.O” is synonymous with wisdom, kindness, intelligence, benevolence, action, aptitude and clinical fear of God.
The current Pro- Chancellor and Chairman, Governing council, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Engr. Kayode Ojo, even in less than a year, has traversed three Federal Universities and have made indelible marks in the affairs of those Universities, where he had had some stincts.
The people of Ekiti state especially APC as a Party, therefore, need to be glad that the Engineer of Metallurgical and Materials will throw in his hat into the ring again; it would be a great breakthrough for them, in view of his political experience, clout and abilities, which will guarantee the rapid development of Ekiti state educationally, politically and industrially. In fact, Ekiti people will count themselves luck to have a leader of Ojo’s class and calibre as a Governor.
No, Kayode Ojo does not need to strive and cause rancor; all he’s asking for is a level playing field like the rest of the other Aspirants and a free-and-fair primary election. Therefore, I would want to appeal to APC Leaders to feel the mood of the party leaders, the silent party members and do it right by ensuring that there’s party Guber primary election. Ekiti can no longer afford to be called a retarded and malnourished State in terms of development, when compared with others. The APC Leaders must work with clarity of conscience and put the State first, in the consideration. Let’s support a man that can represent and protect the interests of every Ekiti people in all areas of aspirations and endeavors.
I, therefore, call on the good people of Ekiti State to rally support for Engr. Kayode Ojo so that, together we can achieve a strong, fast growing State of our dreams.
David Asamu Writes from Ado Ekiti. 080 3764 3696.
