Greatness is no fluke. Success is planned and only the wise endure the rigorous path to success. Unarguably, Ekiti remains the most sophisticated state in Nigeria considering the fact that her citizens have a sweet romance with untainted education. Proudly the home of professors in Nigeria, and a fountain of knowledge but had battled for breath in the hands of charlatans whose pedigree and degree cast a dent on the collective image of Ekiti state and her people. Permit me to say that we haven’t been lucky enough in Ekiti state. We cannot tell how we came by certain things that gave us public opprobrium. But we are cocksure that God is leading us out of the woods gradually.
Plato was right when he opined that the human race will not see better days until either the stock of those who rightly and genuinely follow philosophy acquire political authority, or else the class who have political control be led by some dispensation of providence to become real philosophers. Without bias, every sane man would judge Plato right in his grave today when you consider the level of inanities in a supposed city of great men and women who are by every means relevant in their chosen fields.
Let’s thank God for the fresh air coming into the seat of power in Ekiti today. God has chosen to bless us with intellectuals who can midwife the positive development we yearn for in Ekiti state. Like the biblical Obed-edom, greatness has returned to us in Ekiti as real infrastructure will replace stomach infrastructure with the coming of Dr John Kayode Fayemi and Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.
The Fayemi /Egbeyemi combo will take a critical look at the peculiarities of Ekiti people. Rooted in real governance rather than the shenanigans that we have been treated to, education and human capital development, industrial development, modernized agricultural practices and qualitative healthcare services form parts of the laudable plans to set the people of Ekiti on a lofty pedestal to greatness.
As men who know their onions, Ekiti state will witness tremendous growth and self reliance as we tap from the endless gifts of nature by attracting tourists to the state. The comeback of Ikogosi international Tourism Centre will not just add to the economic wellbeing of Ekiti people, but will provide a fertile ground for small scale businesses to thrive. It will provide job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths as well as consequently put our state on international map.
Instead of heavy taxation and reliance on federal allocation, Ekiti would have business incubation centers to birth an economic growth that can sustain the state. Chiefly among the plans is the revitalization and revamping of Ire Burnt Brick Industry, Gossi water, Fountain Hotel which have been moribund and the abandoned Ilasa Flour Industry Project.
For the purpose of aesthetics and repositioning, the ingenuity of the duo will birth Industrial Park and layout that will make every part of our State an enviable one that marches with the wonders of a 21st century community. The stellar performances of Dr John Kayode Fayemi as the immediate past Minister of Solid minerals will rub off positively on Ekiti people as our minerals deposits will receive a boost through the contacts he has created during his stay as a Minister of solid minerals.
One of the eight Millennium development goals of the United nations is gender equality and women empowerment. Unlike stomach infrastructure, the Ilasa woman who became a rearer of goats with just a monthly stipend has given us a model for the economic development of our women who are adept at turning small things to something big. We will bring out the economic ingenuity of our people by providing an enabling environments for them to thrive. The Fayemi /Egbeyemi combo will respect our women and be gender friendly. Thank God, also for Her Excelkency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who has decided to put the issue of children at the front burner. What a beautiful team spirit, with articulation of thought processes that are achievable and enduring, if the people truly key in into.
I cannot but welcome us to an era of serious governance and I must thank the Ekiti people for getting it right eventually with the choice of these eggheads. The era of amala politics which is alien to us is gone for good. Those things which have been erroneously taken for populists ideas in a sophisticated State like Ekiti will be corrected with real issues that bother on 21st century governance so that our young ones will be redirected on the path of honour.
The day is breaking before our eyes in Ekiti and there is no further hindrance of the illuminating lights.