Cant the immediate well being of citizens and infrastructural development take place at the same time?
toyin
On Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 1:39 AM, <dasylvaus@gmail.com> wrote:
Friends, I am just waking up to the ugly reality, as it were, from a seemingly bad dream induced by the outcome of the Ekiti Guber election. The people's preference for Ayo Fayose over Dr Kayode Fayemi. I have taken time to read closely all the comments, reactions, justification and counter justification for the political "fall" of Kayode and the emergence of Fayose. Most people agreed that Governor Kayode performed above average, but he was rejected by the people because he distanced himself from them. Other reasons given include the fact that he was too busy constructing roads and other infrastructures while the people were hungry; that he did not attract the establishment of industries; that he was so stingy to let the largess circulate freely, that most of the contracts went to "foreigners" (Lagosians); that he does not identify with the masses because he does not eat booli by the roadside, like Fayose and he is so polished and stiff-bodied to dance to local "sowambe juju, or fuji like Ogbeni Aregbesola of Osun State etc., etc, therefore, Ekiti people, in protest voted him out. It calls for celebration, you see.It becomes more and more clear to me, that if indeed these were the reasons that made Ekiti people to vote Fayemi out, then it is tragic!The Ekiti blood that runs in my veins inherit a consciously cultivated self esteem, that will make me and the likes of me to resist anyone, no matter how highly placed, who might want to insult my "poverty". The Ekiti spirit I inherited in my late father and mother, would not associate with crimes and, or criminals; the yam tuber farmer would rather starve planting his yam heads rather than eat them all up on the excuse of an empty, yawning stomach. His discipline is tamed by his hopeful patience, and through hard work, and more patience, he is sure of a bumper harvest that puts an end to his modest desires and needs.I remembered how the father of one of my room-mates at Zik's flat, Nsukka, an Ekiti farmer, in the late 1970s, sold his Suzuki motor cycle to buy a beautiful suit for the matriculation ceremony of his freshly admitted son into the university. That is the Ekiti spirit I inherited from my Ekiti parents.Yes, Ekiti people need food on their tables; gainful employment for their youth. Now, tell me how industrialists could be attracted to Ekiti if there are no basic infrastructure like good roads, electricity, water and friendly environment, etc.? That to me was the foundation that Fayemi was already laying for posterity. But the modern Ekiti lack the requisite patience to wait for a harvest that endures. They cannot hunger any more, and as such eat the yam seed today because they are hungry, now, and leave their children to harvest a famished future. This has been the sad story in recent times.Fayemi did not lose the election, Ekiti people did. They have become a bundle of contradictions. I pray we do not learn the hard way in the next four years. May the people's governor succeed. The will of the people has come to stay. We are, again, witnessing another Adelabu Adegoke populist politics. The result of the 2014 Gubernatorial election points a leper's finger" at my "stranger" amazement!Ademola DasylvaIOn Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 8:14 PM, 'Adeshina Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
"Fayemi did not lose election because he didn't perform but because he is a mile far away from his people. But history will vindicate him." Muyiwa AdeyemiSir,Does this paragraph of yours tell you anything? What do you think history will vindicate? What does being a mile away from the people imply to you?Well, for one, it could mean the Ekiti people are an untutored bunch who must be led on the leash of democratic leadership. They need an educated intellectual (maybe even a 'democratic dictator') who has a deep and almost superhuman knowledge of what they want and how what they want can be given to them. All the people need to do is just wait with bated breath for the crumbs that will fall from the governance table of the Platonic Guardian.Even Gramsci's organic intellectual of the proletarians would be defined by his attempt at unraveling the predicament of the masses, not standing aloof from them or working over their heads.Let's try and give the people some credits too. They habe a way of articulating their desires, however unsophisticated they might. It isn't all about Fayemi alone. After all, democracy is all about them. If they want stomach infrastructure, it behooves the government to give them. If they want their governor to associate with them, what does it take away from him who intends good governance in the first place? Is it not all the better to get to insinuate himself into their pains and agonies? Populism has its own gain.Adeshina AfolayanSent from Samsung Mobile
-------- Original message --------
From: fmmisty via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Date:
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - The Ekiti Election:I Raise My Head High by Kehinde Okunuga
Kehinde, you are right about your perception of Fayemi and how he lost the election.
As a senior journalist working in the state, It is obvious that Ekiti is not ready for the kind of government Fayemi runs, they want somebody that will play politics with government and take care of what they call "stomach infrastructure", somebody who will attend every social function and wear aso ebi with them, somebody that will treat civil servants like "Lords" and cares less about the competence of the teachers.
Fayemi did not lose election because he didn't perform but because he is a mile far away from his people. But history will vindicate him.
Muyiwa AdeyemiSent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTNFrom: Ibigbolade Aderibigbe <gbolaade.aderibigbe@gmail.com>Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 14:21:31 -0400To: USAAfricaDialogue<usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.comSubject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - The Ekiti Election:I Raise My Head High by Kehinde OkunugaIt could NOT have been said or written better!!! I stand with you in your "pride" and "triumph" which at this moment may look folish and " rational of defeat" to the apstoles of Nigerian politics as USUAL!!!. Time, I believe will redress this anomaly... I hope and pray!!!--On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 8:00 AM, 'Nkolika Ebele' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
--OPINION: THE EKITI ELECTION: I RAISE MY HEAD HIGH.
Firstly, Let me congratulate Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his emergence at the Ekiti poll. Without mincing words and from all the pieces of information at my disposal, I didn't hear that the activity in any polling unit was disrupted, therefore it is commonsensical to accept that the major verdict of the Ekiti people, which is that Dr. John kayode fayemi is not good enough for them, in good fate. It is also important to congratulate him, his followers and other numerous Ekiti people who believed so much in him and in his ideology.Yes, the election process was tough, but here we are, it is over. I appreciate everyone who stood by us in the pursuit to ensure that Dr. fayemi re-emerged. I thank those who criticised us and called us names. I thank friends and families who kept believing in us even when it looked windy and weedy. Sincerely, lessons have been learnt and taught. Only God crowns, but I owe my appreciation to Dr. Kayode Fayemi in whom I have learnt more above governance, state politics and the people, even as a non-appointee of his government. Yes, I saw his programmes, what he had for the people and I was obviously okay with them. Most of them fixed up with my idea and my perception about the road we can take as a people towards actualising our goal of a better Nigeria.Since it is important I set the record straight, I wish to state for record purpose that the result of the poll is a reflection of what we cherish in this part of the world. It is undisputable that JKF lost at the poll not because he under-performed, but because he was perceived to be far from the people. Yes, I also agreed, but refused to go by, but this is Nigeria. May be an American or a Russian who only cares about the security of himself and his people would not have given a damn about his disposition, so far the state is developing. May be a French man would not have cared about such, so far he goes to work and makes his money. May be our priorities in this part of the world are different, but this is my country, I appreciate people for their belief, my country is my country and I shall forever hold her in high esteem.The future of Ekiti now lies in the hand of someone the people had tested before. The destiny of Ekiti now lies in the hand of their REBIRTH FAYOSE. Surely, every society deserves the leaders they have. May be Dr. John Kayode was wrong not to have walked on the street. May be he was wrong to have bluntly asked the teachers to write the competence test. May be he was wrong to have accepted the centralisation of fees payable by EKSU students. May be he was wrong not to have ordered an early reversal of students' unions proscription. But the Dr. fayemi that I know is not a typical Nigerian politician who pretends and looses his principle on the obvious quest for popularity and pretencious populism theory. Definitely from what I know about him, Dr. Fayemi is not a typical Nigerian politician. Just like Mallam El-rufai called himself an accidental public servant, I confidently say, JKF is an accidental politician.Whether we like it or not and for those who care to listen, JKF will go on October 16th, but he has made his good marks. He will go, but know he will forever be remembered for his principle and what he has achieved and will still achieve before he finally quits. I know in programmes, it is obvious to the world that he has tried, but then , here we are, the people want a governor that will eat with them on the street and treck with them in the market square. But I know, in future the people will come to realise how lucky they were to have had someone like him governed them. I know he will leave office but wont carry the Governor's office at the Oke-Ayooba to his compound in Isan-Ekiti, Ibadan or any other place. The roads he has constructed and renovated will live with the Ekiti people. I know the world class renovated ikogosi warms spring will remain the property of Ekiti. I know his OPERATION RENOVATE ALL SCHOOLS IN EKITI will remain a legacy in Nigeria. I know while I cannot be proud I used a Desktop computer or a phone when I was in secondary school, an SSI student can be proud to tell his future children that he used a laptop in school when he/she was in Secondary school. This is a legacy that will not only live with our younger generation, but a challenge that is posed to our leaders that yes! If an 8 year old American child can successfully operate a computer, our younger children here can also do that. There is a legacy of commitment to the agricultural sector and I know the YCAD programme shall remain with the people of Ekiti state. I appreciate his philosophy as an upright public servant, I know history has absorbed him well.For the several chats I had with my friends, my lecturers, my bloods, I appreciate. Obviously, either now or later, it is certain some day, people must demand for change and for the diverse reasons many have sought it now, either for selfish reason or in the interest of the state, our conscience will remain with us. I am only glad, JKF didn't loose on the plata of under-performance. He lost on his objectivity. He didn't mix up politics with governance as people expected. As a young man, I preferred who tripped more for good governance than the cheapy politics, I chose to support him. I know that it is with good governance that we can have our future secured. I will never regret my support for him. He knew that it is only with good governance that the problem of poverty can be reduced and sooner or later majority of our youths can be properly employed. I was proud to support this master plan and my conscience is clear for life.Today, I accept every responsibilty for my action. I thank God for a day like this. I thank God for the decisions I took amidst odd reactions. I know history has absorbed me and I can raise my head high.To the people who were co-travellers in the struggle, I appreciate you all and to those who were opposed to our belief, it is well. May be someday, we will come to realise the consequence(s) of our efforts today. I shall continue to pray and work for the progress of my country.Once again, I wish Mr. Ayodele Fayose and the people of Ekiti well.Regardless of the outcome of the election, I like to re-state that we will never rescind on our decision to ensuring that our country becomes better. JKF and his wife 'Erelu Bisi Fayemi' remain my golds and I remain un-apologetic to anyone. I prefer to continue on this minor and rough road which I hope in many years to come will yied good for us.In the face of adversaries, wants, happiness, consistency and courage to stand by one's belief makes one a man of dignity and valour.I now understand what politics is in Nigeria, it is clear to me that people like us do not fit into the crumple political system of Nigeria.Nothing has changed about my perception of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and the love I have for him, we all must just realise that if our democracy must work, identified criminals should not be part of it.May God lead us aright!- See more at: OPINION: THE EKITI ELECTION: I RAISE MY HEAD HIGH.
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