Inauguration Of Political Robbery

Today, the generality of Ekiti people witnessed the inauguration of another dark heist in the political history of her governance.

The Independent National Electoral Commission in connivance with the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress no doubt tampered with the will of Ekiti people in the July 14, 2018 Gubernatorial election by working for and declaring Dr John Kayode Fayemi as the winner of the election. In the days preceding the election, no one was left in doubt as it became obvious that there was open collaboration by the electoral umpire with the ruling party at the centre. The brute, underhand tactics, militarization and arrest of members of other political parties were brazenly done to thwart the will of Ekiti people in favor of the anointed JKF.

Vote buying, political brigandage, violence and outright falsification of results from polling units considered not favorable to the APC became a celebrated practice of ignominy. 

Whereas, the out-gone administration led by the loquacious lord of Afao politics had been disembodied when the chief tormentor of the government at the center was humbled in the full glare of public. Fayose was not only tear-gassed but readily played to a well written script of the then desperate All Progressive Congress.

As a concerned citizen, one wonders where the inaugurated government derives the mandate to lead freely in a land of honour. The events leading to the declaration of Governor John Kayode Fayemi may seem obliterated by the celebration of the moment. However, not a few have come strongly to condemn the political robbery of the will of Ekiti people.

Interesting times sure lie ahead for the inherits of political theft.

With flying allegations of inflated votes, Nigerians were taken aback as to the disparities in the announcement of results. With over 400,000 casted votes, the mathematical conjecture leading to JKF's purported victory remains a mystery,  a craft made possible by manipulation and brazen theft of votes earned by other aspirants whose agents were chased away from the collation centres.

Surprisingly, a renowned academic had mounted the saddle of governance where all and sundry acknowledged the conduct of the election was far from being free, fair and credible.

How on earth did we get here? Fayose in his four tortuous years had ran the business of government as if he inherited a conquered people. He brought nothing new into government and showed no sign of leading a team on a mission to reform the state. He became unto the people a theatrical godfather in a broad yet enlightened land. He fought ingloriously against the Centre and sent every willing tool ready for true develop into political uncertainty. And, they gathered not just to wrest power from the godfather but to accept any style that can deliver to the favoured.

The APC aware of the self adulation, pounced on the defectors, harvesting them like prodigal sons and daughters in a new ointment of deception. 

The election tribunal led by Justice Belgore will have to do a cleansing of the anomalies. The robbery of people's will must not be allowed to prevail in our democratic history. The eminent panel needs to ask why the figure of accredited voters(312,019) did not tally with the announced results which by far outnumbered what was accredited. The tribunal must seek to know why votes of other aspirants were not recorded. They must find out why agents of other political parties were disallowed from observing the collation exercise at collation centres. In a normal clime, every arrangement for election collation would have been meticulously made. Why was there blackout at the collation centre? Why did police chase away agents? Indeed, those involved in vote buying must be identified and sanctioned for democracy to become truly representative of people's will. Those who brazenly got themselves involved in electoral malpractice must be exposed. This is the only way Ekiti people can enjoy dividends of democracy and whoever at the saddle can altruistically lead without rebellion or chaos.

The inheritor of the stolen mandate howbeit, will mount the rostrum of governance in Ekiti, the end of the journey, however short or long, is no doubt, a burden too heavy to shake off.

Until then, let me join others in saying that Ekiti people will reclaim the stolen mandate.

I do hope that when the expected judgement is delivered, Ekiti people can then choose amongst the lot that contested and did with all decency. 

Finally, the APC led government whose selling point is anchored on integrity should purge herself of all electoral malfeasance if at all they are committed to sustaining democracy and development. The best place to commit to this is to jointly condemn the inglorious manipulation that characterized the Ekiti election. Our democracy cannot be frittered on the alter of gangsterism and favoritism. Joseph Stalin  was indeed right when he said "It is enough that the people know there was an election; the people who cast the votes decide nothing, the people who count the votes decide everything". In no distant time, Ekiti people will find out the roles played by the ignoble Amina Zakari and others who connived to rob the people's mandate.

Yinka Dada, JP.

Imogun Compound,

Ire-Ekiti.