As Dr Fayemi assumes leadership of NGF. By EKITI PEOPLE’S MANDATE (a socio-cultural group)
Shared by Pastor Akin Adeoye.
We dare add our voice to the stream of congratulatory messages that have heralded the announcement of Governor Kayode Fayemi as Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors Forum. This’ a welcoming news. Whichever way we look at it, it’s one damn good piece of positive advertisement for Ekiti. A public relation package that could not have come at a more auspicious time. A stimulus to the ongoing restoration agenda playing out in the state.
We congratulate Dr Fayemi, we congratulate Ekiti State. We, like many others, sincerely yearn for the distant past. That past when Ekiti was a model of success even within the inner tier of the old western state. Also, we yearn to see an end to the malaise that descended on Ekiti since that misguided choice of the recent past and it’s disastrous result. This honour and privilege for our governor has brought Ekiti back into reckoning among the comity of states. This is a bright beginning. We must not lose focus on the winning streak. Again, the emergence of an Ekiti governor as chairperson of the NGF matters because our relationship with other states within the federation matters. We are confident that synergies arising from this would bring tremendous outcomes for Ekiti.
That it has generated so much euphoria is welcoming, save for the fact that the excitement isn’t yet the sum of its essential part; but could still become so.
Presiding as chairman of the NGF has left the door open for Governor Fayemi to explore possibilities in terms of partnership and collaborative efforts with other states. We pray he does not lose sight of this. Pundits are quick to pick holes in the manner the affairs of the NGF are run to the extend that it presently returns zero value for the people.
We agree.
However we are confident in the ability of Dr Fayemi to reinvigorate the forum for greater service. That’s why as we congratulate Mr Governor we would also be quick to hint that he owe us the duty to be different. We charge you sir – therefore – to make your tenure as chairperson of the NGF revolutionary enough for noticeable changes to emerge for the benefit of all.
Beyond Ekiti we implore you to make the forum sufficiently virile to partner with the federal government and find lasting solutions to those things that shame us as a nation -extreme poverty, insecurity, unemployment, corruption in low and high places, extreme hunger etc.
If the NGF had indeed been a circus show as many are wont to believe, Dr Fayemi has the onerous responsibility to make a difference. We have no doubt that you would go ahead and exhibit the sterling qualities of Ekiti, make necessary turn around and make the forum a model. It’s only then the unique selling point of Ekiti – our enterprising nature and the famed superb intellect that we are renowned for would shine through before the whole world. We do not believe this is another PR stunt for Dr Fayemi as a person – contrary to what many erroneously think – it’s rather a PR work for our dear state with our governor in the driver’s seat. It’s therefore a golden opportunity to rewrite a portion of our dented history. We have no doubt – that in his excellent manner, Dr Fayemi would achieve desirable outcomes for Ekiti State and the nation in general during this time in the saddle as chairman of the NGF.
Lastly, it’s our sincere hope that Ekiti would continue to remain your number one priority in the scheme of things. We genuinely hope governance in Ekiti would not suffer as a result of this additional burden of state. Becoming the ‘senior prefect’ of governors is a reflected glory. An icing on a beautiful bigger cake which Ekiti State is. Kindly be guided that you are not distracted from this primary assignment.
We wish you well sir
EKITI PEOPLE’S MANDATE