By Carl Umegboro
Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose was recently extolled by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye as an outstanding defender of democracy vis-à-vis his obduracy and the incessant bouts on the federal government’s policies.
The encomium unfortunately attracted unembellished criticisms from All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti state chapter describing the clergy’s remarks as biased, jaundiced and rabble-rousing.
Fayose has at any opportunity vehemently stood against all federal government’s actions and vulgarly attacked the president with all manner of names, unfortunately, politics is civilly knotted on policies and issues, and distinct from personal attacks.
Biblically, such attacks on the nation’s leader are profanities, disrespect and superciliousness irrespective of tribal dissimilarities.
President Muhammadu Buhari should logically, expect to fall apart with more prominent personalities due to the state of the economy though inherited blunders, and above all, his parsimony.
On the economy; good or bad, president takes responsibility, while latter is part of the change majority of Nigerians earnestly bid for by endorsing Buhari at the poll.
Incontrovertibly, the nation under recession essentially requires judiciousness as a paradigm shift.
Nonetheless, if the President is dispensing same pattern to both Christian and Muslim spheres, sure, he has populist utmost supports.
Obviously, this is not time for inconsequentialities but serious business.
No visionary clearly captured it that Donald Trump would emerge America’s next president, instead all the trumpets blew; ‘America’s election will be remarkable’.
Looking at it critically, if Hillary Clinton had won; as America’s first woman president; it is unprecedented. On the other hand, as Trump, a businessman conquered the Clinton’s gang-ups; still amazement.
Hence, Trump’s ascension to power was exclusive of peripheral visions but aggregately divine providence, self-determination and masses verdict.
Interestingly, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) heads the economic team which its terms of reference largely anchored on the economy in shambles, yet, no such attacks has been extended to Osinbajo; Fayose’s tribesman. Again, all the states governors are supposedly members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) where national policies and issues are deliberated prior to adoption.
Now, the question begging for answers is how many motions has Fayose presented during these meetings on how to move the economy forward to prove his superior acumen against the ‘clueless’ policies.
Instead, Fayose is ever standby to throw up criticisms in the public domain, sadly with no solutions ever proffered; calculatedly for self-relevance.
The FEC meeting objectively affords all stakeholders opportunity to put forward feasible ideas together for the nation.
Thus, any governor that abandons such a forum but resorts to opprobrious open attacks on the government is grossly bereft of ideas, deceitful and suspicious of diversionary tactics.
This is akin to lawmakers that maintain silence at the chambers of the National Assembly but rant so loud outside; hectoring with ideas on good governance to the masses.
Nevertheless, Pastor Adeboye as a citizen has fundamental rights to hold opinions on any issues; however, as a prominent religious leader with access to those in the corridors of power, such submissions ought to be chivalrously dispensed.
With Osinbajo as the second in command, Adeboye has unfettered access to the presidency.
On a second thought, Adeboye’s remarks could possibly be resultant of the heinous attacks Fulani herdsmen severally launched against innocent citizens in the guise of grazing which Fayose resolutely declared fire-for-fire in his state.
If on this scenario, Adeboye’s verdict is sustained; while APC’s despicable riposte; overruled.
Be that as it may, by APC opting for a senior pastor in RCCG as Buhari’s running mate, Adeboye is indirectly part and parcel of Buhari’s administration; thus, will alongside take blames if things get messier.
The political matrimony between Adeboye and APC government on account of Osinbajo’s active involvement in the government cannot be overemphasized.
Thus, the finest Adeboye can reciprocatively offer the nation is fast uncommonly, pray fervently and give advises where necessary for the success of this administration.
The singular act of opting for one of his much loved pastors as second in command is indicative that the party had reverence for the clergy and will willingly imbibe his indulgence.
As for Fayose’s patriotism, it’s imperative to note that Fayose’s counsel in the EFCC-Fayose’s account saga, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) never challenged the actions of the anti-graft agency on ground of blamelessness or guilt, but clearly, on account that Fayose alongside all state governors, deputy governors, vice president and president are impliedly licensed to commit all crimes including diversion and looting of public funds without prosecution while in office as provided by section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
All the judicial interventions were strictly based on points of law and distinct from justifiability or rightness. Good governance is about service-delivery and dividends of democracy.
What will ultimately determine Fayose’s fate either as an asset or liability is how he adds values beyond his predecessor.
A governor is elected to manage his state’s economy and not for activism, cantankerousness or political accolades.
Advisably, Fayose should concentrate on governance and leave political mêlées for political parties to avoid dividing his concentration further; for meaningful impact through infrastructural development and economic empowerment as in some states.
To prioritize and maintain tetchiness, boisterous doses on the national government is deceptive, diversionary, parochial, and ultimately, catastrophic for Ekiti people.
*Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and publisher