My phone conversation with a friend on Ekiti

 

Me: “Hello, my pal. How are you? To what do I owe this august call in January?”

My friend: “Jide, you’re not serious. When last did you call me too?”

Me: “It’s true, amigo. I’ve been busy lately. Man must eat now. As you know, in Naija, no food for lazy man”

My friend: “You’re right. Are you at home this weekend? We need to hang out. It’s been a while.”

Me: “Ah! Wrong time! I am actually in the field doing research for one of my clients.”

My friend: “So, what’s your field research about?

Me: “It’s about the forthcoming June 20, 2026, Ekiti gubernatorial election.”

My friend: “What about it?”

Me: “We want to know how the election will pan out.”

My friend: “Professor! Jide, please come down to my level o! You know say me I no know book like you.”

Me: “Come off it, buddy. Aren’t you a varsity graduate?”

My friend: “Anyways, I learnt there is now a direct flight from Abuja and Lagos to Ekiti without having to first go through Akure in Ondo State.”

Me: “That’s true. Since last December, Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport has been functional. We actually flew directly from Abuja to Ado-Ekiti last week. In fact, it’s the flight that brought passengers to Abuja from Ekiti that took us back. Just 40 minutes flight.”

My friend: “Heeeen! Things are really changing for the better in Nigeria o.”

Me: “Mate, did you know I was turned into a mini celebrity last week on that trip. It’s like many people recognised me from all my media advocacies in print and electronic media. Many airport staff and fellow passengers greeted me warmly, even calling my name to draw my attention to salute them”

My friend: “Don’t you know that a golden fish has no hiding place?”

Me: “Na you sabi.”

My friend: “By the way, did you see any of our guys in Ekiti? I learnt that Yinka Oyebode, our secondary school classmate, is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.”

Me: “Yes o. You know I haven’t physically seen him since we left secondary school in 1985. When I arrived in Ado-Ekiti, I put a call through to him and he came to see me the following day.”

My friend: “Really?”

Me: “Yes, o.”

“Indeed, he hosted my colleague and me to an evening of barbecue and French fries as well as nkwobi with nice drinks to wash them down.”

My friend: “Wow! That’s nice and very kind of Yinka to have done that.”

Me: “He’s a proper omoluabi like his boss. Did you know his boss’s moniker is BAO: From promise to performance.”

My friend: “Politicians! Which one is from promise to performance? Self-glorification and self-adulation! From your own observation as someone on the ground there. Will you say he has performed to warrant a re-election?”

Me: “Well, the guy is trying o. You know governance is a work in progress. Much has been done, and more needs to be done. We learnt that Ekiti is the most peaceful state in Nigeria. There are new and rehabilitated road networks. We also learnt that he has recruited a lot of teachers and is renovating schools. Youth are also being incentivised to embrace agriculture.”

 My friend: “Anyway, I wish BAO well in his reelection bid.”

Me: “As an impartial observer, I have no preferred choice among the 12 candidates. Ekiti electorate will decide on June 20.”

My friend: “By the way, hope you’re getting good pounded yams to eat?”

Me: “Pally, should you be asking that question? Ekiti is the traditional home of pounded yams as well as vegetable soup that has federal character now.”

My friend: “Jide, you have come again! Which one is a vegetable with federal character?”

Me: “Bush man! Don’t you know that the vegetable or stew that has assorted meat and fish is the one that has federal character?”

My friend: “Ha, ha ha ha ha! Naija and cruise! Is it not in Ekiti that Afe Babalola University is situated?”

Me: “Yes! It’s called ABUAD. I was there on sightseeing last Sunday. The legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, invested huge resources in that institution. The structures there are world-class. I was amazed by what I saw. The school, the hospital, the industrial park and the farm are of global standard. It’s a multibillion-naira project that has attracted both national and foreign staff and students. In fact, the Ekiti airport will be of immense advantage to the school as it will facilitate travel and tourism.”

My friend: “Baba Afe has done very well for his home state. Hope other illustrious sons and daughters of Ekiti can emulate Baba and help to industrialise Ekiti so that the state can be better developed.”

Me: “Actually, my visit to Ekiti State has shown that things are changing fast for the better. The hospitality and tourism sectors are thriving. I was at Ikogosi Warm Spring and was pleasantly surprised at the transformation. The last time I was there was in 2014 when the government of Dr Kayode Fayemi just renovated the place.”

 My friend: “Jide, I think what you’re telling me about Ekiti State will make me schedule a visit there this Easter.”

Me: “Nice idea. Seeing is believing!”

My friend: “So, from your findings, will there be a credible gubernatorial election in June?”

Me: “Well, as you know, an election is a multi-stakeholder enterprise. The Independent National Electoral Commission alone cannot deliver a credible election. The political class (candidates and party leaders), the judiciary, the security agencies, the media, the civil society organisations, the National Assembly and the electorate (voters) must all subscribe to play their role nobly and professionally. None of them should work to undermine the process.”

My friend: “You’re right. But will Nigeria’s political class behave themselves? You know their penchant for electoral violence and vote buying, which in Ekiti is known as Stomach Infrastructure!”

Me: “That’s why police and other security, as well as anti-corruption agencies, need to be proactive.”

My friend: “Are you concerned that Nigeria has been turned into a one-party state by President Tinubu?”

Me: “How do you mean? Do you believe Tinubu alone lured all the defectors into APC? If that’s your thinking, then you’re politically naïve. Coincidentally, I’ve discussed this issue on several media platforms, including Fresh 106.9 FM, Ado Ekiti, last Saturday. I’m very steadfast in my position; before you blame the hawk for wickedness, first blame mother hen for exposing her children to danger. Before you blame APC or President Tinubu for poaching opposition governors and lawmakers, first blame the opposition political parties for their inability to resolve their intra-party crises.

No serious politician will want to go and contest an election in a factionalised party where the leadership is in dispute. In any event, it’s not the first time Nigeria will be a de facto one-party state and it won’t be the last time. We were once a de facto one-party state for much of the 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party was at the helm of affairs of this country from 1999-2015. What’s certain is that Nigeria will remain a multi-party democracy even if it occasionally has a dominant one-party.”

My friend: “Jide, nice speaking with you. I’ve got to go now. Duty calls!”

Me: “It’s my pleasure, buddy. Let’s stay in touch. Sincere regards to your family.”

I.G: @jideojong