By Dele Sobowale

“Every country has the government it deserves.” Joseph De Maistre, 1753-1821. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 80).

Generally, I seldom write about issues at state or local government levels. Since coming on this page almost 20 years ago, I had prioritized my attention to focus on the Federal government – which still controls most of our lives. In a really federal republic, this should not be the case. But, nobody can change reality. So occasionally, a matter comes up at state level which calls for comments. With respect to Ekiti State, I write because I am involved. My maternal grandfather Pa Agbe-Davies, the first Nigerian to reach the rank of Inspector in the Nigeria Police, was from Ogotun Ekiti. So, this is home front.

De Maistre’s observation about countries deserving the governments they have also applies to states and even local governments or counties or municipalities. People who have the privilege of voting for the governments of their choice don’t often realize how valuable a gift God had given them. We waste the opportunities provided so frequently and end up with disasters, called Presidents, Governors and Chairmen – about whom we later complain. We conveniently forget that we had a choice – which either failed to exercise or made frivolously on account of influences which foreclose reason.

When the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, started contemplating a challenger to Dr Kayode Fayemi, the current Governor of Ekiti State, I prayed that the party would come up with a candidate with such an exemplary record of achievement coupled with personal integrity and high intellectual capacity as to make the choice difficult. I strongly believe the PDP is blessed with such individuals who could make Fayemi himself shake, even if a little, in his shoes. Hope was dashed. What Ekiti has, at the moment is a walk-over – or should be. Let me quickly explain why.

Fayemi and Fayose

In Fayose’s last year as Governor of Ekiti State, before impeachment, descendants of Pa Agbe-Davies, were invited to Ogotun Day. Five of us packed ourselves into my car and went. On the Day, Fayose arrived in a helicopter, which I was told was rented at government expense. After announcing that four communities were observing the same day in Ekiti, he donated a used Mercedes Benz to the Oba (approximately N1.5m) and to the town – N250,000. I left the venue in fury. What on earth was a town supposed to do with N250,000 after the rental of helicopter. I told our host that the men would not last in office. Less than four months after, he was impeached for reasons now sub judice. To me, intellectually and ethically, Fayose is not governor material. A person who still has a case to answer and clear his name should redeem his father’s name first before thinking of contesting for any office. Otherwise it means he does not care about such things. Then we should not trust him with the office.

But being anti-Fayose does not translate to being pro-Fayemi. So let me make the case for Fayemi. To start with the two are poles apart intellectually, an HND holder should not be in the same class as a Ph D holder. However, there is more to it than that.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the main beneficiary of the struggle to actualize June 12, 1993 mandate given to Chief M.K.O. Abiola owes that good fortune to the old men of Afenifere and the gallant young men of NADECO. Everybody knows the roles people like General Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Dr Akigba and, of course Asiwaju Bola Tinubu played in the struggle. Few know how great a role Kayode Fayemi played. Because the Yoruba people might need him again to repeat the feat, I will say no more.

But, if there is any Yoruba person in Ekiti who was proud of these courageous young men, who risked everything to fight Abacha to a stand still, your vote must go to Fayemi. Nobody is perfect. But, he most combines the qualities – courage, intellect, integrity and vision – needed in a leader. It is a pity he cannot finish his second term in Ekiti and come to Lagos State for two terms. I have often wondered what he would have done if Ekiti, the third poorest state, is as rich as Lagos or Akwa Ibom or Rivers.