By Dele Sobowale

“The yes-man is the enemy; your real friend will always argue with you; fight with you.” Aleksander Solzhenitsyn, Russian author, Nobel Prize Winner.

WHEN the PUNCH story of November 8, 2014 reported that “Ekiti State former governor, Kayode Fayemi, borrowed [underlining mine] N3.3bn to build a state house”, the doubt about Fayose’s, admittedly self-serving alarm, and exaggeration, of the cost of the new Ekiti government house was removed from my mind. And, the least that can be said about it is disappointing.

Let me disclose that Fayemi is one person going into government house from whom much was expected. Given the resources available to Ekiti State, he had done very well – in my own opinion.

False sense of security

But, he had also been a victim of media yes-men, especially one newspaper, who led him into a flase sense of security concerning how the people of Ekiti perceived his policies and programmes. Because, I had written before on why he lost the re-election bid, permit me not to repeat what is already history. It will be interesting to know how Fayemi relates with those columnists, who sat in Lagos, and knew how the people of Ekiti would vote.

My own disappointment stems from three facts which are indisputable. First Ekiti State is the poorest state in the Southwest. Second, the state collects federal revenue allocation higher than only three states – Gombe, Plateau and Nassarawa and only about sixteen per cent of what states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Lagos take home. Third, Ekiti has no industrial base to speak of and very little tax can be put on most of the structures called houses in most towns. It is almost totally dependent on monthly allocation from Abuja. Its main “industry”, which is education, is a drain pipe on the state’s treasury. But, the stakeholders in this loss leader sector of the state’s economy constitute the most powerful political force in the state. That explains why this group of stakeholders resent any obvious large expenditure on anything – other than their won sector.

It is almost axiomatic that any governor of Ekiti State, embarking on equitable distribution of the income to the state, must regard a new state house as low priority—for a very good reason. Once upon a time Ekiti was known for its emphasis on education. But, that was at a time when education was a matter of chalk and blackboards. But, today, education, at all levels had become capital intensive – especially tertiary institutions. A governor of Ekiti state has only to reflect on the fact that states like Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa – collecting several times its revenue have failed to establish Africa class, not to talk of world class universities, to also decide that a new governor’s mansion can never be top priority. Even if the entire N3.3bn had been spent on the state’s tertiary institutions – university, polytechnic, College of Education etc – it would still have been woefully inadequate. That is why it was a wrong decision – for which the people will pay dearly in the future.

Ekiti State University, which is among those I have visited, is also one of the worst equipped in the country. Granted, it was always that way under Fayose, the Sole Administrator and Oni; and it would still have been one of the poorest even if Fayemi had spent the N3.3bn on it. However, because Ekiti is a predominantly Christian State, the parable of the ten, five and one talents, given to [public] servants should apply here. Much more is expected from one to whom much more is given. But, even the servant who is given the least is still expected to demonstrate a sense of guardianship and to ensure that even that little goes very far.

Incalculable interest

It is possible that not more than 20,000 people would ever benefit directly from the facilities at the government house. But, it is certain that several generations of Ekiti State University students will receive less than the best education possible if the N3.3bn had been invested on a good library. Why? Because, “Contemplating a library, one feels as though in the presence of vast capital silently yielding incalculable interest.” Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 129).
No State House in Nigeria can ever deliver one hundred thousandth the value of a good university library. Not, one.

P.S. Dressed in Borrowed Robes. The picture at the top of the page represents my own transformation agenda. The suit and shirt were borrowed from friends. Only the tie belongs to my wife. Hope you like it.