It has been consistently established that one of the rampaging ills of this contemporary age is the clear erosion of societal values and communal virtue. The obvious disappearance of characters and attitudes that are once seen and established as the pillars of progress and ethos of responsible living. It is a fact that the basic indices of measuring individual success and collective achievement in the socioeconomic space have been adversely altered by the prevailing ugly trend while the moral goal post at every facet of life and adventure have been completely turned upside down.
Understandably, this has not just begun. It is a trend that evolved with the rising of this contemporary age. The gradual decadence of values came in response to apparent systemic failure and absolute collapse of fundamental institutions and structures that naturally upheld and initially formed the backbone and lifewire of the society.
In the face of general degeneration in the society, characterized by economic depreciation, political uncertainties, leadership failure at every level of societal organization, absolute apathy to genuine nation-building initiatives, a generation of youth with bleak and uncertain future among others; the core values became unattractive and consequently irrelevant. It therefore becomes a curious and crucial issue as the society bends toward perdition.
Though a universal phenomenon, but Ekiti becomes more pertinent in this regard, based on its rich history and legacy of outstanding core values and glorious antecedent which have from the time immemorial distinguished the land and its people in the comity of nations. It obviously becomes worrisome the perpetual dwindling of sincere regard to the core values among the people. It however took something close to an uncontrollable dimension in the recent years with every news emanating from the state ostensibly negated everything the land and its people hitherto noted and stood for.
It was therefore a well-targeted shot when Gov. Kayode Fayemi at the preparation for his second coming as the governor of the state decided to structure his agenda around restoration of the Ekiti Core Values. Meanwhile, in today’s world, political governance and public admnisration has gone beyond mere politicking and rhetoric assertion. It has definitely become a formidable and viable tool for repositioning a society for greatness. It is not just in the developed climes but also in both developing and underdeveloped worlds; governance has become the lifewire of every society. The quality of leadership and sincerity of its purpose coupled with its technical know-how have been identified as the sure way to take a society out of doldrums, to the next level of socioeconomic development and also give assurance of a better, greater and more rewarding future.
It is now a year after; that Kayode Fayemi had assumed the leadership position of the state. Riding on his purpose of restoring the values that are once dear to Ekiti people. Values that had distinguished the earlier generation of the people and had made them stood tall in the comity of nations. Values that had christened the state, a fountain of Knowledge and land of honour. Fayemi had now spent a good three hundred and sixty five days as governor of Ekiti State.
It is now a year after. What has changed? Curious mind may want to ask! What and which values have been restored? Meanwhile, it takes who knows if something have been lost to know if it is restored or not. To a very discerning eyes; if the values have not been totally restored, it is apparent that this current administration is in the right direction of ensuring it. This is evident in the quality of leadership in the state at this present time. A leadership that is currently the flagship of state admnisration in the entire country. A model government that have become the toast of all and sundry. A benchmark in inter-government relationship and yardstick in interpersonal diplomacy.
Gone are the days when the activities of the state government was perpetually embedded in rebellion and constantly enmeshed in controversy. The leadership of the state has once again come to represent the cultural endowment and intellectual sagacoty that the state and its people are noted for from the days of yore.
While the government is currently not living any stone unturned to ensure the state is economically buoyant and self-reliant, it has made it a point of duty that government workers are not only adequately remunerated but also promptly paid. It is important to note that in this era of socioeconomic advancement, payment of workers’ wages by respective government should not be a political issue. And should not be seen as an alternative to embarking on capital projects. Likewise workers recruitment should not be politicized. A reasonable government should absorb workers according to its capacity and also embark on infrastructural projects based on its wherewithal. Kayode Fayemi is not making a mistake in this direction and he has been iconic in this regard. He has displayed that the state has the capacity to pay its workers accordingly, provide for the welfare of the people especially the aged and vulnerables with no qualms and also provide the state with necessary infrastructure without running the state down.
The financial prudence and transparency in Fayemi’s admnisration has obviously brought the current status of the state’s IGR to the open. And the unprecedented progress of the revenue drive has been acknowledged far and wide. This is a departure to an era when the state’s IGR is a subject of controversy and secrecy.
Institutionalizing of government policy and programmes is key to advancement of democratic ideals. It is a thing of joy that Ekiti of today is enacting laws and promulgating orders that will ensure that governance is not just a passage of individuals at the corridor of power but a continuum of institutions and structures.
This past one year has inarguably substantiated a fact that if the head gets it right, the whole body will be at peace. The restoration of value at the helms of affair is absolutely the tonic the state needs to restore the value among the populace. It is a fact that if the head is sick, the body is surely sick. And a faulty head is tantamount to a body in jeopardy. It is a truism that no society can grow beyond the quality of its leadership. And it is also unequivocal that every leader is a product of the society. So Fayemi’s Ekiti is gradually reflecting in the people. It is apparent that the state is once again approaching the legendary pedestal where core values, such as quality education, integrity, honesty, dignity of labour, industry, dedication, sincerity of purpose among others will continue to hold sway in the state via aspiration and determination of its leadership.
Meanwhile it must be noted that restoration of value is not the same as its sustenance. It is therefore sacrosanct for the government to ensure a strategy that will promote the sustenance of these values. This is not just at the corridor of power but also in the psyche of every citizen and residents of the state.
