This Ekiti Rerun Drama

I am starting to worry about the impending Ekiti State rerun elections scheduled for April 25. My fears are heightened by the magnitude of the involvement of the Abuja Power house led by none other than President Yar'adua himself!

That scares me; reasons being that I am still unable to fathom how crucial the result of the rerun in far-away Ekiti State is to our national stability to warrant the President, Speaker and who-is-who of Nigerian elected officials parading the state so frequently and making such sweeping and provocative statements as have been credited to them in recent publications.

If we go by the actions of our 'leaders', Ekiti State rerun must be higher up the priority list of our survival issues than Re-branding Nigeria since the President did not deem it fit to be present at the launch organized by the Honorable Minister but he was strong enough to make it to Ekiti State for a mere PDP rally of supporters contending for just 64 wards in a rerun.

It also appears that we need to look closer at Ekiti State again. There seems to be something of inestimable value there that only the PDP had discovered and are determined to hold on to at all costs. Have they discovered a valuable material deposit there to provide the next frontier for 'chopping' the national cake? Or why is the ruling PDP party with over 2/3 of the states in its coffers so bent on holding on to Ekiti State that they will roll out their top level artillery to fight tiny AC "at all costs"... even to the point of 'using' the army!

To me, the flurry of activities around the Ekiti rerun shows that our elected leaders in Abuja still do not get the point of governance. To them, it is still politics and that is where their priorities lie. PDP led Federal Government is still playing politics with our destinies. They are not interested in governance. Period.

With this level of executive intimidation of the electorate and gross misuse of constituted authority, it is obvious that that rerun will not be free and fair. The only people who can save the State now are the Ekiti people themselves. Would they be bold enough to resist this modern day tyranny and chose their own Governor themselves, maybe even at the cost of their lives?

Considering the battered psyche and gross poverty the average Nigerian has been subjected to including the Ekiti people, I will not be surprised if the PDP gets away with its oppressive strategy again.

But can I dare to dream? Will the Ekiti people legendary for their resistance of oppression rise up to the challenge just this once more...for all of us?

I dare to hold my breath...cos this style of 'governance' must stop someday...