EKITI ELECTIONS: Lessons for Bayelsa Politicians.

The Ekiti elections have come and gone contrary to many predictions of election malpractices, it was a fair contest. The people's voice was echoed at the polls and it took a gentleman Governor Fayemi to humbly accept defeat, we saw how he congratulated "his brother" Fayose even against the wishes of his party faithfuls.
Fayemi (JKF) did not lose the elections because hi didn't perform or that he was adjudged corrupt. He lost because he was not in touch with the yearnings of the people who voted him in. His style of leadership was termed out of tune with the citizens demand (most of who are civil servants just like Bayelsa state).
Fayose on the other hand won because he had grassroots support, people see him as one of theirs as he traversed the streets helping the common man. This goodwill helped him win a lot of hearts even after almost a decade after he was impeached by the state house of Assembly! In Bayelsa today apart from Alamieyeseigha, I doubt if any Governor has enjoyed grassroots support. We cannot forget the pelting incident which was likened to the Shakespeare's tempest.
Today the same civil servants are crying for better working conditions and welfare, instead our government at all levels are busy diverting attention to secondary issues. Citizens' welfare in my opinion should be NUMERO UNO in any serious government intervention. Where this is absent we should expect an overturning of the votes when the next poll comes. Since the State House of Assembly has become a rubber stamp that does not question the acts of the Governor while Councillors are mere appendages of the LG Chairman.
Yenagoa today has one of the most expensive house rents in all the Nigerian cities I have been to, our ONLY university is facing a near crises and we are busy playing ostrich. The people of Ekiti spoke with one voice against an unpopular choice because he decided to toy with their welfare. I doubt if the Bayelsa people will be so bold as to go to credible polls to remove unlistening government.

Today we applaud Ekiti for voting their conscience and I sincerely hope we will be bold enough to do same come 2015.

Best regards

Sami F. Okpolagha-Abel