Commentary: When will Fayose start performing the duties he was elected to do?

by Ugo Okeke

With the politicking leading up to the elections, many have noticed that Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has virtually devoted all his time being the self acclaimed Spokesperson for the People’s Democratic Party.

From constant lambasting the opposition to spending time designing and publishing derogatory messages to his enemies. So it begs the question when will Gov Ayo Fayose starts performing the duties he was elected to do?

With his constant urge to speak on every issue, it appears that Fayose enjoys listening to the sound of his voice, even though his intervention makes no meaning. Or else, why must a governor always feel the need to address every issue that doesn’t concern him or the development of Ekiti state. Also why can’t someone in his cabinet let him know that his verbal haemorrhage is causing embarrassment to the great people of Ekiti state?

Every time the Governor opens his mouth to spit missiles; they cause concern and heat up the polity.

As soon as he was elected in August, his state was thrown into turmoil as it was alleged that his loyalists beat up a Judge adjudicating in a case that was to determine his eligibility.

Not long after this, the Governor-elect as he was at the time engaged in a long drawn media war with the defeated candidate, Kayode Fayemi over the alleged misappropriation of funds. Before the dust of the media war about the state’s debt profile could settle, he was embroiled in another war with civil servants over the payment of salaries.

Since then, Fayose has been engaged in verbal brawls with almost everyone. He makes statements that portray him in uncomplimentary manner. Certainly, the image Fayose is creating in the eyes of the public is not the one expected from a governor.

The position of a governor is the one that should command awe and respect. Why then
should Fayose always want to get into a fight all the time? The last time, it was the petrol station of an opponent that was sealed off. At another time, an attempt to impeach the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly led to violence.

Many are starting to ask the question “Did the Ekiti people actually vote for Fayose? Was he elected in free and fair contest? Logically, that isn’t an issue for the court alone. With the stormy information made available to Nigerians via the various institutional leaks, obviously, the last hasn’t been heard about Ekiti Election.

The likes of Fayose must know that the youths of this country are watching their actions and utterances. They must thus lead by example and conduct their affairs peacefully and with respect for the people they govern.

The governor must not be seen to respond to every issue. If he must, then he should do it through the proper channel. He must make use of the line of communication and respond through his media aides through press conferences or releases that address issues rather than abuse and personal attacks.

When a leader who is supposedly expected to be a democrat of conscience, democrat of character, democrat of discipline, democrat of leadership through respect for constitutional authority, respect for laws that made it out rightly luxurious for everyone to be Governor or President at a time is found flouting the norms, values and ethos of democracy, the consequences are catastrophic. The effect of this would carve a wrong niche on upcoming leaders; it will cause a generational
stir on the concept of leadership and service.

A situation where the governor sounds off on every issue, abuses and attacks known and imaginary enemies diminishes his exalted position. It amounts to talking first without thinking. A few weeks ago, the governor took up a political advert in which he attacked the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu
Buhari.

In the advert, he listed Nigeria’s former leaders from the North-West who either died naturally or were killed in military coups and admonished Nigerians not to vote Buhari because, Fayose reasoned, he might suffer the same fate. The advert, which was in bad taste, was widely condemned by Nigerians. Even his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, distanced itself from him.

Another source of embarrassment is the governor’s constant war of words with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Even though there may be a score to settle between the two, there are ways to engage without resorting to abuse and name calling that have characterized public discourse.

There are many issues in Ekiti begging for Fayose’s attention. The state needs him to improve their lives not through tokenism or propaganda but through enduring programmes and projects. These are the urgent issues the Governor ought to be addressing. One wonders if the governor realises he has just four years to make a difference.

————————-

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail