Ekiti polls: What’s integrity got to do with them?

It is not enough to be passionate about democracy without paying particular attention to the character, integrity, reputation and competence of those we put into office. It is tempting to be induced with money by corrupt politicians to secure our votes, but the cost of that act will affect the future of our children and […]

It is not enough to be passionate about democracy without paying particular attention to the character, integrity, reputation and competence of those we put into office. It is tempting to be induced with money by corrupt politicians to secure our votes, but the cost of that act will affect the future of our children and children yet unborn. The quality of democratic governance is directly proportional to the integrity and competence of those elected into important offices.     
Ekiti state has the enviable distinction of producing Nigeria’s best and brightest; it is the fountain of knowledge. Such a unique State therefore, requires a leadership that would be a reference point for vision-driven development. However rich a state may be, it would hardly achieve development when it is ruled by crooks, whose only qualification for public office is connection to the so-called godfathers. In fact, as the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa said, “development cannot go with corruption”
As the people of Ekiti State decide on who their next Governor should be, they must reflect carefully on the consequences of electing leaders for the sake of their money or connections rather than their competence and integrity.  Since 1999, when Nigeria returned to democratic governance, corruption has been the main factor impeding our development, corruption is so entrenched that our country is not respected in the eyes of other nations. As citizens of this country, we owe it a duty to rescue our democracy.
Having carefully examined Governor Kayode Fayemi, I believe he stands out remarkably to provide the much needed leadership founded on integrity. His lifestyle remains simple. His government has not been associated with corruption, greed and waste since he was elected three and a half years ago. His passion for development and the zeal to offer selfless services to the people of Ekiti State has been tested and proven. He came into public office with untainted record and he has maintained that record ever since. And why did he achieve this within just three and a half years in office? He did so because he has never at any stage of his political career perceived a public office as a gravy train. Greed and accumulation of wealth is not in his political dictionary.
On the basis of his track record of integrity and competence, Fayemi has nothing more to prove. One of the greatest qualities of any leader is the ability to take difficult, but necessary decisions, even if they may be temporally unpopular.
Transparency and accountability have been the bedrock of Dr Fayemi’s policy direction. It takes courage to stand for transparency in a society like ours where crooks dominate politics. And as long as crooks dominate politics, it is hard to see how good governance can bear fruits in any state or country run by crooks. Integrity is Governor Fayemi’s outstanding virtue; competence is his middle name. His focus on social security for the elderly (senior citizens), youth employment, development of vocational skills for self-employment opportunities and emphasis on agriculture have been some of the areas where Dr. Fayemi made his mark in the last three and a half  years in office.
Ekiti State cannot afford to go back to a style of democracy dominated by gangsters, who don’t know the difference between public funds and private funds. Democracy is not for those who seek public offices for the sake of the titles and the material benefits. It is for those who have the passion for service, the integrity, the character and the competence to use people’s resources for their well-being. Incumbent is the man with these requisite qualities the people of Ekiti State urgently require.
The journey is so far, so good for the people of Ekiti State, and therefore, Fayemi deserves a second term to consolidate on the gains of good governance. And the gains of consolidations may be lost when crooks are elected into office. Those who perceive public office for personal power and self-enrichment endanger democracy. And for that reason, only Fayemi, among the leading contenders for that office, has what it takes to save Ekiti State from being thrown into the dark past.

Salawuddeen wrote from Yahaya Road, Kaduna, <abdulrazaq@[email protected]>;