By Lere Olayinka

Last week Thursday, I was at the popular Oja-Oba in Ado-Ekiti to do
some buying when a locust beans (iru) seller, whom I latter identified
to be Madam Febisara said “a doju tini omo ni Fayemi i o” (This Fayemi
is putting us to shame). She was talking to her colleague, who had
complained of low sales.
It was then that I remembered that by October 16, Dr. Kayode Fayemi
would be one year as governor of Ekiti State. My mind also went to how
Ekiti was on October 15, 2010 that the judgment of man, which removed
Chief Segun Oni as the State governor was delivered by Justice Isa Ayo
Salami. My mind went round the towns in Ekiti State, especially
Ado-Ekiti, the State capital and all that I could see was demolition
of houses and shops. Then I realised how desperate Fayemi must be to
convince Ekiti people, especially the likes of Madam Febisara that the
liberation of Ekiti (as if Ekiti was in bondage before) and the
eldorado that he promised had not been killed by the spoils of office
and lack of initiatives about governance.
As I paid for the N200 locust beans that I bought and made to go,
Madam Febisara again sarcastically asked her colleague “Su waa ko ja
re, ka ya a gba tiketi ka ya a mu o Kiriji l’Adetiloye?” (Won’t you
pack your goods and let’s go and get tickets to be able to see Kiriji
War play at Adetiloye?). Then I asked the woman; “Who is showing
Kiriji War at Adetiloye?”
“Ogun Kiriji ko, Ogun Agbaye ni” (Not only Kiriji, it is world war),
the woman hissed, answered and faced her business.
For the better part of that Thursday, my mind was preoccupied with
what Madam Febisara, a mere locust beans seller said about Fayemi. I
asked myself several times; who is going to tell Fayemi to his face
that he is now being called a doju tini omo by a locust beans seller?
Who would tell the judiciary imposed governor that his Kiriji War
stage play does not mean anything to the people whose sources of
livelihood had been destroyed?
Then came Monday, September 26, when I read the reaction of the State
chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Kiriji War play.
I could not agree less with the party position that the stage play
amounted to “dancing naked on the grave of Ekiti ancestors.”
One of such ancestors was Fabunmi Ishola, the one popularly called
Fabunmi Oraralada (the one with magical sword). The whole story of
Ekitiparapo Liberation War, which culminated into wars like Jalumi,
Fejeboju and Kiriji was centred around Fabunmi, a prince from
Okemesi-Ekiti. He (Fabunmi) commanded the Ekiti army for years before
Ogedengbe Agbogungboro from Ilesha joined the army and Fabunmi
relinquished the mantle of leadership to him.
Does it therefore not amount to dancing on the grave of Ekiti
ancestors for a play on Kiriji War to be sponsored by Ekiti State
government and no representative of the family of Fabunmi was present?
The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, who could not stomach
this brazen anomaly complained openly at Adetiloye Hall, venue of the
stage play.
While the family of Fabunmi was missing, those of Ogedengbe from
Ilesha and Aare Latoosa from Ibadan were duly recognised when the play
was staged at Adetiloye Hall, Ado-Ekiti on that Friday. And the only
explanation Fayemi’s government could give for this glaring insult on
such a great son of Ekiti, who with others staked everything,
including their lives to free Ekitiland, was that “representatives of
the major actors in the war were invited. While the representatives of
Ogedengbe, Latoosa and Ogboriefon were present, that of Fabunmi could
not make it to the Premiere because his vehicle broke down and he
apologised the following day when he joined Ogboriefon, Ogedengbe and
Latoosa to have breakfast with the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.”
Even from this excuse, what can be seen is arrogance on the part of
Fayemi and his government. Representative of Fabunmi, around whom the
play was built was invited, he could not make it to Adetiloye Hall on
the day of the premiere because his vehicle broke down, and he was
still the one who had to apologise to the almighty Governor Fayemi?
Perhaps, because Fabunmi’s representative was the one who caused the
vehicle breakdown so that he could miss the premiere and later had the
rare opportunity of apologising to Fayemi?
If representative of the family of Fabunmi, the main actor in the war
was not at the premiere, “because his vehicle broke down,” I just
wonder whether vehicles of representatives of Oore Okinbaloye of Otun,
Ajero Oyinyosoye of Ijero, Aduloju (Ado), Talabose (Ikole), Olomofe
Oriti (Ijero), Faboro (Ido), Olugbosun (Oye), Fajembola (Ilupeju),
Ologundudu and Anigilaje (Ipao), Agada (Efon), Apapalaso (Ekan),
Okeoro (Ire) and several other great Ekiti warriors, who played
prominent roles in the war also broke down on their way to Adetiloye
Hall last Friday, as they too were not were not present at the venue
To further add salt and pepper to the affronts, notable Ekiti born
artists were not involved in the play. Even though I do not have
anything against the artistes that were brought from Ibadan and Lagos
to act in the play, but the poser those who packaged the play must
answer is whether there is any sense in a Fabunmi Okemesi, Ogedengbe
Ilesha, Aduloju Ado, Oore Okinbaloye of Otun, Ajero Oyinyosoye of
Ijero, Talabose Ikole among others speaking Oyo or Ibadan dialect!
Could there have been any semblance of originality in a historical
play where characters that are Ekitis and Ijeshas speak Oyo or Ibadan
dialect? Definitely, if those who played the role of Ekiti and Ijesha
warriors did not speak Ekiti or Ijesha dialect, then what Fayemi
brought to Ekiti must have been his own version of Kiriji War that is
capable of distorting facts and making mockery of history.
Then of what benefit was even the play, on which N10 million was
allegedly taken out of Ekiti State treasury to the people of the
State, many of whose sources of livelihood had been destroyed via
demolition of houses and shops to pave way for Fayemi’s flower
planting project? Of what benefit is Kiriji War stage play to the over
5,000 local government workers, Local Council Directors of
Administration and Treasurers, permanent secretaries, teachers and
other public servants that have been sacked by the Fayemi-led
government?
Or of what benefit was the play to the families of those people whose
lives have been cut short either directly or indirectly by the
Fayemi-led government?
Today in Ekiti, health workers and magistrates are on strike, and
Fayemi has not deemed it necessary to address their grievances. Even
the State Civil Servants that called off their strike last Friday did
so without getting any commitment from the governor as to the
implementation of the N18, 000 minimum wage. Roads are bad; water that
was flowing on the taps before Fayemi came to power has become a
luxury, tuition fees in boarding schools have been increased from
N10,500 to N15,500, free laptops that were given to students of
boarding schools have been withdrawn, no more scholarships for
students, traders now groan under low patronage; and most importantly,
the fate of the State owned university, Ekiti State University (EKSU)
hangs in the balance with the National University Commission (NUC) yet
to approve the change of name from University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) to
EKSU, yet Fayemi’s way of celebrating his one year in office was
Kiriji War!
Could the play have done nothing other than to remind the victims of
Fayemi’s anti-peoples’ policies that Ekiti is now being held captive
once again by Fayemi, who was born and raised in Ibadan? Well, that
might be a way for Fayemi to celebrate his PhD in War Studies.
Most importantly too, as posited by a commentator, isn’t it a pity
that the same Fayemi, who is among the proponent of unity, peace and
integration in the South-west is the one fanning the embers of discord
among the sons of Oduduwa by remembering generation which was not born
then of the heinous deeds of their fore fathers against each others?
One imagines how the families of Aare Latosa will feel when reminded
through a play sponsored by the Ekiti State Government the role the
Ekitis played in the circumstances that led to the death of Latosa?
What would be going on in the minds of the descendants of Momodu
Jogunomi from Ibadan, who died on his way from the war front if they
were seated at Adetiloye Hall last Friday? Or could the people of
Okemesi that suffered great human and material loses during the war
only to be betrayed by their fellow Ekitis, who reneged on the
covenant made before the war, be happy being reminded of this sad
experience?
Whichever way one chooses to look at it, Fayemi’s sponsorship of
Kiriji War stage play at this time amount to nothing other than
dancing naked on the grave of Ekiti ancestors just to put some
millions of naira in the pockets of his cronies.

Olayinka, a journalist writes from Okemesi-Ekiti

Upon gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria made the liberation and restoration of the dignity of Africa as the centerpiece of her foreign policy and played a leading role in the fight against the apartheid regime and others. Nigeria foreign policy was soon tested in the 1970s after the country emerged united from its own civil war and quickly committed itself to the liberation struggle that was going on there. Though Nigeria never sent an expeditionary force in that struggle, it offered more than rhetoric to the African National Congress (ANC) by taking a committed tough line with regard to the settler regime, in addition to expediting large sums to aid anti-colonial struggles. Nigeria also played significant roles in the eventual independence of Angola and Zimbabwe. She was a founding member of the OAU (now the AU), and has tremendous influence in West Africa and Africa as a whole. Nigeria has additionally founded regional cooperative efforts in West Africa, functioning as standard-bearer for ECOWAS and ECOMOG, economic and military organisations respectively.

The question that begs for answer is; despite what Nigeria did for the continent of Africa, what has she gained from such goodwill? Nothing! It was this that prompts me to write this column. At 51, the economic and development well-being of Nigeria should henceforth be the mainstay of our foreign policy. In the name of African unity and good neighbourhood, Nigeria continues to sacrifice for our continent. That is admirable but the southern African countries have forgotten the sacrifices made by Nigeria to bring them out of their woes, Sierra-Leoneans and Liberians have forgotten the loss of Nigerian soldiers in their efforts to return normalcy into these countries. While I am not advocating that Africa should be abandoned, it is high time Nigeria’s interests came first in our foreign policy analysis and objectives. Retired General Danjuma was not saying anything different when he lamented “Right now, we are becoming the United States of ECOWAS at very great cost to us. We think this is unaffordable to us now.”

According to Professors Fawole and Amadu Sesay, two reputable scholars of international relations in Obafemi Awolowo University, The Guardian of the 29^th March, 2011 quoted them as saying that it becomes imperative that Nigeria redefined its foreign policies to meet the realities and dynamics of the rapidly globalizing world of the 21^st Century. They said the move was expedient for the country to fully assert itself truly as the giant of Africa.

According to these erudite scholars, “Nigerian political leaders should know that significantly, the world had moved away from the scenarios of the 1960s when the country appeared on the international stage as a new sovereign state into an era marked by the end of apartheid, emphasis on good governance and democracy, respect for human rights, multi-party system, free, fair and credible elections and reforms in the UN, especially the expansion of the Security Council.” This is why I feel that Africa as the centerpiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy is no longer sufficient; a broader outlook is required. None of the important international diplomatic actors, such as the USA, France, Britain and even China, build their foreign policy on only one pillar. My country should not be an exception if she wants to play an important role in the contemporary high tech diplomatic circles.

While it is noteworthy that President Goodluck had expressed his government’s willingness to address this issue, the president’s action must go beyond Africa if he truly wants to take the country out of the wood. At the international circles, the country also need to checkmate the manner in which she subjects her policies to the dictates of other international actors such as IMF, EU etc and governments such as UK, USA etc. This is particularly true in respect of the formulation and execution of sensitive social, economic and foreign policy programmes in directions that clearly subvert the sovereignty of the Nigerian people. The foregoing situation is a far cry from the patriotic and progressive zeal of the late 1970s when even under General Murtala/Obasanjo’s military regime; Nigerians were able to hold up their heads high anywhere and in any circumstance.

Today, what subsists is a pervading subservience of our country’s social and economic policies and our image to the dictates of Western imperialism and its ‘globalised’ market forces. Today, the agents of these imperial forces are now in Aso Rock Villa setting agendas of recolonisation of our country. In a country that over 92% of her citizens are living below $2 per day, they are still threatening to remove the petroleum subsidies! These institutions have also cloned their tentacles in the state governments across the country. At yet another alarming level, there is now a reported apprehension that Nigeria’s national security may be compromised by the presence of contingents of foreign (American) security personnel on our lands under the pretexts of combating terrorism.

Beginning from 1978, the forces of International Finance Capital and Multinational Corporations began to seize the country’s economic initiative and thereby set out the process of recolonising Nigeria (1978 to 2007). That process started in the military regime led by General Olusegun Obasanjo. What has been happening in Nigeria since 2007 is the consolidation of that recolonisation agenda. Every element of the current crisis vis a vis the collapse of industries, educational and health facilities, infrastructures (power, transportation, water supply), degeneracy of the environment, inflation, currency weakening, ethnic and religious violence and collapse of public security is traceable to this incessant attempt to consolidate the recolonisation process. A good leader that is committed to the Nigerian people will reverse this disastrous trend in which the political, economic and cultural interests of the Nigerian people are subordinated to those of the dominant forces in USA and Europe that supervise global exploitation.

Adewale Stephen

Department of History, Part IV

Obafemi Awolowo University,

08031509489

No one who is minimally objective on political discourse in Nigeria can deny that last week’s Governorship primaries election in Kogi State by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is a sham. As widely predicted by many analysts, it was business as usual, just electoral fraud and manipulation of delegates list at its worst. Four out of the seven contestants boycotted the election by withdrawing from the race, yet the election was conducted without the Party addressing the irregularities raised.

The process and result of the primaries have been an embarrassing rejection at every turn. Controversy over its electoral process has dominated headlines on the newspapers and concerns that the process was poorly managed by the State chapter of the PDP have already settled into popular discourse and public consciousness. The Kogi State PDP’s position that it exercised due diligence is rubbished by the simple fact that the list of delegates were not made available to contestants before the election. It is also important to note that where some of the loudest criticisms are coming from is from PDP original delegates for the election. The agenda of the State Governor, Alhaji Idris was on full display when the results of the primaries were announced and his in law and business partner, Captain Wada was declared winner. By every logical analysis, the said election will remain a very sad day for people who believe in Nigerian’s democracy.

The unjustifiable exhibition of absolute control and influence over the primaries election by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Idris is widely regarded as unhealthy. It is amazing to see, though, how a governor holds so much power in a democracy. The fact that a governor can anoint a candidate as his successor is not very surprising especially coming from an emerging democratic setting like Nigeria that is seemingly ridden with corruption in governance and possibility of financial probe by an unanointed predecessor. However, the authority to change the list of delegates for the Kogi State primaries election without undergoing established party procedures show that Governor Idris arrogated to himself too much power for self centered interests. All these efforts which run against democratic tenets were done in connivance with some corrupt State Party executives to ensure that the Governor’s candidate emerged as his successor in the party primaries. Unfortunately, the negative public reactions to the outcome of the election neither bodes well for the Governor’s political maturity nor for the Kogi people in a democratic setting because a State primaries elections must not be an aid to injustice.

Right now, the stakes are high and they go beyond Kogi State. The PDP is facing a possible political contamination triggered by its State Governor, Alhaji Idris. The exhaustion of his two term cumulative eight year alleged corrupt rule, may have contributed to his role and vivid interest on who becomes his successor but this not a sufficient condition to upturn Nigeria’s democracy. Most important, it is not Governor Idris that is going to be held most responsible by history for what happens after his tenure of office in Kogi State but those who failed to secure our democracy. Therefore, the increasing call on the PDP National to take the lead in getting the present crisis resolved is considered very apt.
The common belief is that if PDP wants to be truly seen as a fair and just Party, it needs to clean up the mess in Kogi State. The fight against impunity of the State Governor must not be left for the opposition to the Governor’s anointed; it should be a priority for all those that want democracy to thrive in Nigeria. Otherwise, not only the Party will pay a very, very dear price.

As Nigeria marches on in its efforts to deepen democracy, such a selection process conducted by Governor Alhaji Idris and his cohorts should be rejected with the contempt it deserves and the consequences of such an election should not be considered lightly. The position of Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, the country’s highest regulatory agency on electoral matters to withdraw its officers from monitoring the Kogi State PDP primaries elections midway into the exercise is highly commendable and it not only shines a light into this darkness but retains INEC’s dignity and integrity.

To challenge the results of this sham election, is for the people of Kogi State to assert their democratic rights because it would be naive to expect that the Kogi State Governor, who coincidentally is the State Party leader, would have the moral capacity to address this problem without bias, if ever he is instructed to do so by PDP National.. This is where the intervention of the PDP National Executive is also vital in order to ensure that these problems don’t carry over to unmanageable proportions. Presently, a call for calm among the political factions by the security agencies is being observed but the dominant sounds coming out of the very many displeased PDP supporters are unlikely sighs of relief. While it is wise to ask those opposing the Governor’s position to maintain their composure, avoid needless provocations by showing calm and restraint, the National PDP’s continued silence on this electoral fraud is highly suspicious and displays an amazing degree of negligence towards public opinion. The question that readily comes to mind is, has PDP leadership lost its mind or has its National Executive members all gone on vacation with their voices.

Whether or not the National PDP will provide an answer to the ongoing impunity of the State Governor has become increasingly questionable. The fact remains that everyone observing the Kogi state’s democratic drama is awaiting the voice of PDP leadership because voting at the Kogi State primaries was not based on total integrity and sincerity, as such an exercise tainted with incredibility cannot be described as a means of upholding the torch of democracy rather it diminishes the honour and dignity of the Nigerian people. Luckily, President Goodluck Jonathan, a man that professes to be interested in rapidly enhancing Nigeria’s democracy is the National Party leader of the said PDP. His decision on whether or not to let the primaries election results to stand will show the world his true face on democracy and determine if all the external funding assistance to Nigerian Government by the international community is worthwhile.

Besides the implications the Kogi State PDP primaries has generated as concerns for the International community, the lingering fears that disputes over the improper candidate for the PDP could disintegrate into violence is real. However, what has become more worrisome is the Kogi State government’s continual rhetoric on having conducted a legitimate election, which is sufficient to foment violence and deride democracy when not kept in check. While many people may stand for the freedom of speech, it is also bothersome to many progressive thinkers that Governor Idris is willing to risk peace in the State for illegitimately advancing his self interest on a candidate that is plagued by conspicuous allegations of defrauding the State Government through bogus contracts and abandoned projects. Indeed, this is best described as a naked promotion of corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

There is widespread popular concern and anger over Governor Idris’s abuse of democratic rights of the Kogi people. First, exercising people’s democratic rights involves more than casting a ballot on Election Day, the distortion of an important process like the primaries is all about limiting the people’s choice. Second, .the use of state resources for campaign activities is condemnable. Third, the imposition of a candidate is very wrong. Fourth, the manner of handling this crisis has remained unacceptable to the majority. Thus, any constructive protest by the people at this time may not be strange because it will best be regarded as only an expression of the feeling that their voice has been stolen by Governor Idris.

From every logical reasoning, the backlash to Governor Idris actions which dramatically departs from safeguarding the choice of the people carries strong risks of instability and any chaos in Kogi State could provide Boko Haram like-minded groups another ungoverned area as a safe haven much as Borno State did for them under the tenure of a past governor, that today claims he never knew he was grooming a monster of unimaginable proportion in disguise of political self survival. Again, this is where Governor Idris actions may be a threat to our Nation’s security.

Now that the actions of the Governor has come under public scrutiny, the opposition is armed with knowledge of his playbook and as long as the PDP primaries is regarded as a selection not election, it is highly predictable, that when the people of Kogi State go to the polls in December this year to elect their next Governor, it is obvious that the intrigues that fostered a PDP candidate on them would serve as a ready catalyst and critical factor to make them stand in support of any party which produced the people’s choice. In as much as this remains a matter for the PDP, any reasonable political party that intends to engage in a free and fair contest is expected to be proactive in adopting tactics more dignified and trustworthy than rigging the elections for an unpopular candidate. The PDP by taking a strong stand against the primaries election results produced by Governor Idris would spare the INEC the energy and resources of conducting a credible election. The internal dynamics of PDP politics will be considered relevant if it can pressurize the outgoing Kogi State Governor to drop his own version of democracy or undemocratic tactics. This is difficult but certainly not impossible.

The condemnable nature of the conduct of the PDP primaries is not only a hard blow to PDP for having such electoral improprieties within the party but to the National Party Leader, President Goodluck Jonathan. Without an honest review of these electoral results, people will have no legitimate avenue and moral reason to participate in politics and most people may be pushed to take more radical means Certainly, this will be followed by a collection of questions about how Governor Idris intends to deliver the State for the PDP without the peoples support.

It is still unclear what further line of action the Kogi state governor may tow because such a man will be obviously very well prepared for every scenario but all these will be against good conscience and due process. Governor Idris should not be allowed to conduct any fresh primaries because his ways, intents and purpose are already defined. For the PDP, as difficult as it might be, the path of prudence for it as a ruling Party may require rectifying this abnormality before Kogi State descends into chaos. This may require adopting a common sense solution and for now, the easiest remedy to this issue may lie in the discovery that there exist sufficient and cogent reasons to further discuss and proceed with the merits of allowing the mandate from its previous primaries election which remains the valid people’s choice because it will simply require the Party’s affirmation.

The fight against political injustice in Nigeria should be without violence but the people’s fight in Kogi State is a good fight to win democracy.
Hon Idris Mohammed. President, Kogi Patriots