Honestly, I want to congratulate Mr Gov for his ability to manage constructive criticism whilst, lampooning not only his gatekeepers but also the overzealous supporters cum sycophants, whose sole livelihood depends on the governor’s patronage.
Reflecting on last week’s activities regards critiquing Ekiti State polity, and notably governor Oyebanji’s multiple gaffes over his two years in office, it couldn’t have come as a surprise that government sponsored e-rats tried too, but inevitably failed to discredit my opinion on Ekiti affairs under Oyebanji.
My position on the various early second term agenda endorsements of governor Oyebanji despite having not fully crossed into the half life of his tenure got an unlikely boost from the statement made at the Isan Ekiti Day celebration by our notable citizen (whether for or against) the 4+4 syndrome.
Another of my positions regarding the ineptitude of the gatekeepers to Mr Gov is the mis-prioritization of scare resources on so called legacy projects that ultimately benefit just a handful of Ekitikete. How Mr Gov’s advisers/ EXCO members opened their eyes to watch the ‘Urban Water Renewal Scheme’ go uncompleted despite the loan involved, then agree to the construction of a bridge to nowhere is an academic study for another day.
Well, a school of thought argues that the state EXCO wasn’t in place when the decision to construct the bride was made, let prosperity judge us all.Juxtaposing public water availability, the revenue it was to earn the state Treasury versus the cost of the bridge is simply a colossal mistake.
Our prayers must include that water borne diseases don’t go on the rise as every citizen now sources drinking water from uncertified sources (well, boreholes etc). For democracy to blossom, interference with free speech must be curtailed, today a gentleman whom I hold in high respect subtly asked that I shouldn’t attack with words the state government, ehmm.
What actually gladdened my heart was the singular fact that I wasn’t accused of telling lies against the government. I had on a few occasions called out Mr Gov on #FactChecking some of his public pronouncements which fell short of being true, so I credit myself for the high standards. “You can only give what you have”.
This week’s polity started with Whatsapp group admins issuing threats of participants removal from their platforms if they refused to tow the line of lies and deceit. Personally, I exited 2 such platforms as I wouldn’t agree to such unethical practise as the state approaches politicking season.
Below is such an advise from a group admin to myself and by jove I took the high moral ground by exiting myself from the platform. Funny enough, I never subscribed to be added to these platforms, but was added out of recognition, so to attempt to silence my opinion was a no brainer.
MESSAGE TO ME:Prof K A Familoni USA ABAT Platform: *@AbiodunBorisade.
NOTA BENE I have enjoyed some of your news posts on the ABAT platform but it has come to my notice and that of others that some of your posts have been attacks on the Ekiti State Governor.
Governor BAO is an APC member and our ABAT platform is an APC platform. It is therefore unacceptable to use such a platform for attacking the Ekiti APC Governor since there are other platforms for that.
I therefore advise that you restrict your postings on the ABAT platform to news only and desist from anti-BAO or anti-APC posts on the platform. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.@Admin. MOVEMENT DIASPORA, USA .
RESPONSE FROM ME: I cherish your civility esteemed sir.I also refuse any indiscriminate censorship particularly if I speak truth to power.I have exited the platform in order not to bring avoidable rancor. Biodun Borisade_For me and many with discerning minds, the morning tells how the day will be, there is an unholy alliance against the people of Ekiti under the progressive umbrella to jettison one of the most important attributes of democracy, the right to choose flagbearers for elective positions.
The air is rented with 4+4 agenda cacophony that might ultimately lead to the party’s implosion. The reasoning must look beyond the most coverted seat of my governor. If party primary is done on selection basis, what then will stop the automatic return of glaringly non performing (S)elected office holders?
For me, even if Mr Gov should get a second term, it must be based on performance and not by jejune sponsored endorsement. APC must hold primary election for the gubernatorial flagbearer!!
The Governor Oyebanji I knew when he was the SSG and Commissioner, even as a private citizen, has a listening ear and yes he is a strategic person who listens. I don’t want to say he doesn’t like criticism. I don’t see him as someone who will take draconian measures to silence differing view points, as one of the tenets of democracy is accommodating and listening to opposing views and considering the views of opposition within and outside your political cycle. Therefore, tolerance is very important. The moment voices with differing opinions are shut out of the system, I think our democracy is going to be in serious trouble.
