Where Are The Ekiti Wise Men?

 

Remember the Kaduna Mafia? It is a term popularised by the columnist,Mvendaga Jibo. The mafia favoured the old clique of rulers in the Tafawa Balewa  and   Yakubu Gowon administrations.  Unlike the popular American Mafia, the Kaduna Mafia comprised the wise men that held political power in the former northern capital city of Kaduna towards the end of the First Republic. The group gained headway through its closeness to power, thereby dictating how the political rudder should go. The group supposedly achieved most success during the first era of Obasanjo’s government where many of its members were appointed to key positions of power and used its alliance to obtain patronage and disburse favour to friends and associates.
Since the evolvement of the Kaduna Mafia, several other power blocs have evolved to wield power and influence among many in Nigeria. These blocs were originally made up of varied cultural, ethnic and racial groups with little intent to come under the same political tent under the principles of equity or fairness in the rocky political, economic, and social terrain. And when they began to emerge, a mixture of different religious, ethnic and cultural groups started springing up in a Kaduna-mafia-like manner.
Among such power blocs, which have emerged at various periods to address different political imbalances and influence where the political pendulum of the country should swing, include the Egba Elders, the Ndigbo, the South-South caucus, the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Afenifere group, NADECO, among others.
Despite their homogeneity, the Ekiti people have failed to raise such men and women strong enough to build such power and influence that will sway the political pendulum towards their axis. This may have been their undoing since a state was carved out for them with common tradition, culture values and language. For geographical convenience, one may posit that Ekiti is one of the 36 states that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And for the sake of common argument, we may agree further that the state has produced the highest number of professors in Nigeria. But one doubts if these add up as qualities strong enough to put the state in a prominent position on the map of Nigeria. Or are they?
Ekiti needs more than these to enter the elite groupings in Nigeria. Some critics have argued in the past that the fault was in the creation of the state, which came out of the people’s agitation, without putting into consideration some lapses like its inadequate financial state. Some said the people cannot speak with one voice as a result of too much education. Another set of critics would argue that they were not cohesive enough to own a state big enough to stand on its own from the old Ondo State. All these ones may not be totally incorrect. Their arguments might have stemmed from the fact that Ekiti has remained at the back burner since its creation and could only boast of weak representation at the centre. Every sincere son and daughter of Ekiti must admit that the state has been tottering for so long and that it is long overdue for it to find the magic wand that will put it on the political map of Nigeria like every other state in Nigeria. Or what else could confer elitism on a people more than education?
Ekiti is not a bereft state. It is blessed with first-class brains; its intellectual capacity can hardly be surpassed by any other state in the federation. It is also naturally endowed with huge human natural and human capital. Regrettably, all these have not resulted in positive economic development and political relevance. The state has little or nothing to show in terms of steady growth, economic development, peace and progress. Who is to blame?
In population, Ekiti is larger than several members of the United Nations, including Namibia, Botswana, The Gambia, Cyprus, Luxemburg, to mention but a few. But the challenges facing the state have reduced it to be worse than some local governments in Nigeria. So far, the wise men that have come out of Ekiti have been acting like the three wise monkeys named Mizaru, Mikazaru and Mazaru, meaning: see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. They play safe, keep quiet and stay focused in the face of deteriorating conditions, unlike in other societies where wise men agitate for better life for the people.
Isn’t it about time then that Ekiti began to produce its own wise men whose influence will take the state to the front burner of the nation’s politics and economy?  Among the five states created in 1996 without the benefit of the Federal Government providing a takeoff fund, Ekiti lags much behind because its people are not politically savvy. Thus, its people continue to cry for recognition in their own country. This is why a mafia strong enough to attract political relevance for the people is desirable. Efforts in the past to come up with a strong bloc had never been successful though.
But there is a ray of hope. If the group called Igbimo Ure Ekiti, comprising high-profile men and women craving the wellness of the state could walk their talk. From some documents gleaned regarding their intentions, one could see that these are people of character who imbibe the core values of dignity, reliability and integrity. They seem to understand the psyche of Ekiti people and the need for reason, accommodation and patience in handling matters of mutual interest. So far, the group has put the right foot first and one can see some passion for results in it. After all, its convener, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, onetime minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a prominent private sector player and other prominent Ekiti men and women, say they are willing to take over the challenge. The group, they say, is open to all qualified indigenes with the right qualities. Hopefully, they will get it right this time.