Gov. Fayose of Ekiti State

By Bola Bolawole

Last week was momentous in Ekiti state as Gov. Peter Ayodele Fayose rolled out the drums to celebrate what many have described as uncommon achievements. From Wednesday up to Friday, signature projects were commissioned by the government, attracting very important personalities from all over the federation. The Kesewu market was commissioned on Wednesday, followed the next day by the High Court Complex, which was declared open by the Chief Justice of the Federation, ably represented by Justice of the Supreme Court, Olukayode Ariwoola. In attendance were Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, the doyen of the Bar, Chief Afe Babalola; the Chief Judge of the state, Ayodeji Daramola; and many others. Although it was generally agreed that Ekiti needed an edifice such as the one constructed by Fayose, no one believed the project was do-able because of paucity of funds. Since the creation of the state in 1996, no new infrastructure had been added to the state Judiciary.

A rarely emotional Chief Babalola was emotional for once, recalling how he practised law in the old court buildings over 50 years ago. According to the state Chief Judge, the immediate past administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi agreed the state needed a new court complex but complained of paucity of funds. That must be the reason why no one believed the project was do-able when Fayose promised to get it done. When he added that it would be delivered in 18 months, everyone said “we shall it!” And you cannot blame them: If Fayemi who got far more federal allocations than Fayose, a Bond of N20biiliion, other commercial loans and internally-generated revenue could not do it, what magic would Fayose, with a leaner purse, perform? That was why Chief Afe Babalola called Fayose a “magician” and “miracle worker” for delivering on the project and delivering on time. Two things must have surprised many people.

The first is that the edifice was named after the first Chief Judge of the State, Ajakaiye, who, incidentally, is now the traditional ruler of Iyin-Ekiti, the stronghold of Opeyemi Bamidele, who belongs to the opposition. Another is that Fayose could be interested at all in giving priority to the project during the tenure of the present Ekiti CJ, who is not known to be Fayose’s fan. Incidentally, the Oluyin himself said the Ekiti example was the first time a court complex would be named after an individual; so Fayose was not compelled to have so named the complex; neither would anyone have raised an eyebrow if he, too, had complained of paucity of funds like Fayemi did. The complex, complete with modern facilities, will facilitate the efficient and fast administration of justice in the state. It will also relieve “Me Lords” of the stress and other health-impairing inconveniences they suffered as a result of the ramshackle facilities of the past.

The train moved next day to the Government House where a new Governor’s Office, adjacent to the old, was commissioned by Gov. Nyesome Wike of Rivers state; with ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Governors Ikpeazu (Abia) and Dankwabo (Gombe); PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, and many other VIPs also present. A coincidence of note: Fayose built the old Governor’s office just as he has built the new one. The old was commissioned in May 2006 just as the new was commissioned in May 2018. In October 2006, Fayose was run out of town by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who incidentally, had commissioned the edifice. His second term ends next October, leaving him less six months to “enjoy” the fruits of his labour on each occasion; but he says he is more concerned about his place in history than personal enjoyment. The train moved later in the day to nearby Fajuyi where the over one-kilometre long flyover was commissioned by Jonathan. Of all the signature projects of Fayose, the flyover is, perhaps, the most discussed. The aesthetics of it alone dazzles and the commercial activities that gradually crowds around it show it may not be the waste of funds that some say it is. Doing a comparative analysis between the Fayose flyover and the one Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode is building in the Pen Cinema area of Lagos where I live, I conclude that it becomes more expensive and more debilitating when government waits for a problem to surface and become a behemoth before it is tackled. If the Pen Cinema flyover had been built some 15 years ago when I first relocated to the area and the traffic snarl had not become a hell of a thing, it would have cost far less and the suffering we go through while construction continues apace would have been avoided. It is better when government is proactive than when it runs after a problem. It is in this wise that I applaud the Ekiti fly-over.

In a few years’ time, those criticising it today (for political reasons?), will see the need to applaud Fayose for his foresight. I have it on good authority that the same way some people are complaining that the flyover is not needed right now was how they complained when Fayose was dualising the major roads of Ado-Ekiti during his first tenure. Imagine what Ado-Ekiti would look like today without the dual-carriageways and how much they would have to spend to have the projects done right now compared to the “peanuts” they went for 10 or 12 years ago.

I have lived in Nigeria for a while and can say with clarity of mind that no government solves all problems. Individual leaders also have their priorities. Our problem has been when we have do-nothing governments – which will not build anything; yet we will not see the money. If every government adds something, the problem will recede. What Fayose has done now will not attract the attention of the next government, which will be free to shift attention to, say, agriculture, small-scale industries or whatever. Not to do anything at all yet “spirit” away the funds has been our bane. Fayose boasted at the commissioning that he is responsible for at least 70 percent of the landmark infrastructural development in Ekiti today. An official of Ekiti Parapo, an association of Ekiti sons and daughters in Lagos, confirmed to me that, that could be true. It is, then, a shame! What has the other governments done? What can they point to as their own contributions? How can they justify the huge sums that came their way if they cannot point to the physical structures that they left behind?

The events were not bereft of politicking, though. Fayose and other PDP leaders left no one in doubt that they would not accept any monkey game as they are bent on retaining the state in the July 14, 2018 governorship election. They said also that they were ready for APC‘s touted “federal might” and what is now called “return match” The usually reclusive Jonathan also came out of his shell smoking. The die, as they say, is cast! What with the army of big names and deep pockets that the APC has amassed for the Ekiti election! PDP counters that every politics is local and big names do not win a football match. Except good sense prevails and the election is not only free and fair but is manifestly seen to be so, the shape of things to come in subsequent elections may begin in Ekiti.

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