On this breezy morning as my entourage approach the mountainous town of ado ekiti, (in our hummer bus) the focus of discussion singled out the financial & economic quagmire the state is in and how/who can steer the ship successfully out of the doldrum, even if it were to sustain the current level the Dr John Kayode Fayemi led administration had done?
Laudable IGR projects in the agricultural sector, though at Private Partnership levels on ground. Whether untapped or unoptimized revenue drive at the local government level, the mural of solutions kept popping out…
Ultimately, it was agreed that the solution lies in who emerges as the next governor of ekiti state. Of all listed prerequisites, including age, political sagacity etc, the common denomination was that an entrepreneur, industrialist, in street parlance… A man that has handled naira and kobo (not at marginal levels) was to be the next governor.
I take cue from the ekiti born ”Individual(s) Power Houses” that donated towards the #Covid19 Response request organised by the state government, I want to challenge the research skills in our intellectuals…
Do you know how many ekiti indigene owned companies are listed of the Nigerian Stock Exchange?
Do you know the ramification of such listings in the economic life of Nigeria?
Moving on in our quest to finding the next governor of our beloved state definitely necessitates a deep inner reflection beyond the kobo kobo hand outs attributes of electioneering.
We can’t keep doing things in the same way and then expect different results. The leaders of our various sectors must look into their inner most, consider the variables they would want in the next governor, but most importantly what our state and future generations will want in the next governor.
We need to take cognisance of the fact that we can remain the same while other states are passing by if we refuse to take immediate action now by considering the business sagacity, acumen, knowledge and exposure of those clamouring for the Governorship position in the state come 2022.
Ekiti 2022 is desiring for a change and a positive change for that matter, a far better and only option is to have our governance duly enthrusted in the hands of an industrialist and capable entrepreneur who has practically seen it all, applauded for his contributions nationally and internationally.
Ekiti people are tired of lip service and need to be bailed out of her present stagnation. We need action NOW to avoid reaction because we’ve stayed too long on the same dry mountain. Our economy is in bad state. Our civil service system, not functioning optimally, workers salaries, unreasonably poor while their welfare is indescribably shameful compared to their counterparts all over the country. Our agricultural sector too is praying for intervention.
Interestingly, we have some individuals of standard and recognition within us that can do the turn around and deliver Ekiti from the financial and economic doom. We have no option than to support such an incredible individual. He’ll surely do it. We cannot afford to remain poorer the more due to political gimmicks, deceits, pretence, hatreds and muscle flexing.
We have to join hands together, for a productive 2022 and beyond.
Remi Ogundele
Publisher, Cityglitz magazine, social commentator, & documentary expert Lagos. Indigene of Iloro- Ekiti, Ijero LGA.
