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OP-UNEDITED | EkitiGate: More Than Unsettling Ekiti State – By Ariyo-Dare Atoye

By Ariyo-Dare Atoye

Southwest is gradually caving in to political conquistadors. Many of our politicians are now acting like vassals to a resurgent powerful political Mafia. This group had once faded into oblivion; but it is now back, controlling the agenda of the seat of power. It is plotting to dominate power for a long time such that anything standing in the way must be crushed. That is why within eight months of the present administration, rule of law has slipped into coma while democracy is gradually on its way to recession.

Indeed, the infamous Ekitigate is just an item in a wider script of power play. It is an elaborate template and the hawks working on this template are not taking prisoners.  Some of these plans are targeted at total annihilation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the suppression of the opposition within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Individuals who are perceived to be nursing future ambition to occupy Aso Rock in contradistinction to their agenda now risk possible onslaught. The signs are not only just there, the manifestations are also very real. This is jungle politics.

According to a popular Yoruba saying, “The water beetle that is dancing on the water surface is not just doing so without a purpose; there is a drummer beneath the water beating the drum to create the melody.”  As funny as this scenario looks, it somewhat suits the latest resurgence of the over-flogged issues surrounding the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State Governorship Election. There is certainly no smoke without fire and apparently, Mr. Tope Aluko, popularly known as TKO in the Ekiti political circles, is just a pawn in a political crude game. He allowed himself to be led into it for selfish interest. But Aluko is not acting alone in this latest but not strange voyage into EkitiGate.

Unfortunately for Aluko, he seems incapable of seeing through the overall script. The power game is certainly far beyond his comprehension. It is a political ponzi scheme – the schemers have succeeded in procuring a man who is ready to sacrifice his honour and family name for a mess of pottage. Ekiti people are known for their dignity, honour and the protection of family values. An Ekiti man will do everything to defend his family name. But for Aluko to openly admit to perjury is certainly an exception. He did not care about the future of his children. No responsible parent will contemplate such ignoble action.

Although a major reprieve for TKO is that the Mafia through its fronts may have guaranteed him a no-perjury conviction as long as he continues to play ball, yet that in itself is a burden to his political future. Poor Aluko has no clue about the identity of this Mafia. He is certainly not relating with the group directly; it is an extended complex game that even the major actors may not know where it will end. One can only pity Aluko because whatever he gets from this venture will still not be sufficient to secure his political future.

It is understandable that Governor Ayodele Fayose is a major target as he continues to unsettle the hawks with his outspokenness. He is now a leading voice in the land, challenging the excesses of Aso Rock. It is not unexpected if he has been marked for whatever agenda the Mafia may have, while EkitiGate is being reworked in a bid to achieve the unthinkable. Recall the smuggling of the Doctrine of Necessity into the Supreme Court in the case of Wike vs INEC. They are also thinking in that direction and working on something sinister. But the present Chief Justice of Nigeria is not seen as someone ready to sacrifice his hard-earned years of meritorious service to his fatherland. He has just a few times left and must have resisted some wicked overtures to compromise justice. So using the judiciary to hunt Fayose may not work.

We are in a season of political uncertainties where the rule of the President is higher than the rule of law! We currently risk fascism, but for people like Fayose who are talking truth to power. With the exception of Ebunolu Adegboruwa and a tiny few, the human rights community has simply gone completely numb in Nigeria. One may now be compelled to accept the notion that the capacity to defend democracy and the rights of the oppressed is an inspiration that could be derived or compromised. It is like a spirit which can come in and go out. So some individuals who once possessed this spirit, acting as the “conscience of the nation” might have failed to sustain it.  Hitherto unknown Nigerians are now standing up to defend the rule of law.

Again for the record, the Ekiti June 21, 2014 governorship election was conducted devoid of rigging and manipulations. There is one truth about that election which cannot be taken away: it is the most covered and monitored single election by local and foreign observers because of the civil society pedigree and connection of former Governor Kayode Fayemi. An interesting addition is that, many of the observers came to Ekiti with smart electronic devices, prepared to record any form of electoral malpractice. They were present in all the 16 Local Government Areas and moved round freely without intimidation and harassment. Ekiti was a major test case for them. And in the end, there was no single report of indictment in that election; it was adjudged free, fair and credible.

I may not be privy to the quantum of money raised for that election by Governor Fayose, but the allegation of $37 million may not be different from the phantom $2.1billion arms money alleged to have been shared out to PDP leaders. Whereas, all the charges in the courts against all the alleged offenders so far when added together is nowhere near N50 billion, as against over N500 billion cooked up for media frenzy. This is certainly not justifying graft or exonerating anyone. But we must point out the recklessness with which figures are bandied around to crucify people. $37 million allegedly spent on Ekiti election is a good sensational script that will alarm the unsuspecting public anytime. There will be many more figures to come. It is a season of drama and aberration.

On the alleged militarization of the election, it was an open secret that security report had suspected the infiltration of Ekiti by State Boys from Osun to wreck havoc. Again, Fayose never hid the fact that if tight security was guaranteed, he would win the election. There could have been some measure of affinity in terms of conversation between some members of the then ruling party and the security officials but certainly not to compromise the poll.  It was only strategic for the security personnel to adopt extra measures like using special tags to beat the likelihood of thugs using army uniforms to perpetuate evil. The concern was rife then of an attempt by area boys to compromise the security system. However, the “Tale by Aluko” is giving everything a new colouration to justify a hatchet job, even though not new.

Fortunately, the reports by various election observers did commend all the security agencies for ensuring peace during the election, which significantly aided high voter turnout. The truth about the story of June 21, 2014 will still be told in full by those who, for political and personal reasons, still disagree with the outcome of the poll. We can still remember the contrived political innovation called “photochromic,” blamed for the defeat of the APC in that election. Added to this false invention was the Theory of Stomach Infrastructure. Yet, nothing can ever override the truth.

Unfortunately, the same people who criticized the use of soldiers for Ekiti election have suddenly seen no reason to object to the same for Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections. I believe they will also come with different reasons why it is now justified to deploy soldiers. They are full of inconsistencies and contradictions. The plan to unsettle Ekiti, of which Aluko is now a major player, is all about 2019 projections. From a close observation and in the manner this issue has been syndicated so far in the media, it is not far-fetched to know that this script has been re-jigged to serve an intended purpose. Sadly, a segment of the South West youths on social media recruited to sustain this contrived narrative cannot reason beyond a futile obsession for a political change that has since lost its taste. They trended EkitiGate on Twitter with all vigour as if it was capable of redeeming the battered image of the 2016 budget. They even ignored the invasion of Dalori by Boko Haram and would not comment on President Muhammadu Buhari not visiting Maiduguri to empathize with the people. What a sad commentary for our nation!

Although it is not yet clear where this matter is headed in the end, but one thing is sure: the truth will eventually prevail. However, I urge that we do not joke with the people who are desperate with powers and who think they can do and undo regardless of the Constitution. We must take solace in the fact that power is transient and this phase too will pass away.  Until then, the new addition to our political lexicon: EkitiGate, is more than unsettling the “Fountain of Knowledge.”

Many political observers are yet to grapple with the reality of what is gradually unfolding, especially in the Southwest. The hawks are currently doing everything possible to equally whittle down the influence of the Lion of Bourdillon-Bola Tinubu-by saturating the APC with decampees from other parties.  The upcoming board appointments will further reveal several misgivings. Take it or leave it, the game for 2019 has commenced in earnest and the battle line is gradually being drawn. In essence, the bigger picture is more than just EkitiGate.

 

Ariyo-Dare Atoye, a member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria (SCN) contributes this piece from Ward 8, Igbara Odo-Ekiti, Ekiti State – aristotle001us@yahoo.com 

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Inspired by Steve Biko’s ‘I Write What I Like‘, OP-UNEDITED is the citizen opinion segment of SIGNAL. All opinions posted on the OP-UNEDITED page are unedited and the raw opinions of the writers.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Kay

    February 6, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    So empty!

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