THE JOKE CALLED GOVERNOR FAYOSE

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

Reports say that Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has embarked on an indefinite strike in solidarity with workers of the state civil service, who have been on strike for about two weeks.

In a televised state-wide broadcast on June 4, the governor said he was embarking on the solidarity strike so as to show concerns with the workers of the state civil service who have not received salaries in the last five months.

Declared Fayose “I want to tell workers that I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with you. I share your pains, but it is rather unfortunate that a man can’t give what he doesn’t have….”

Earlier on, Fayose had declared that he will not sell his family to pay workers, as the state had no money to pay.

How Ekiti – a state reputed to be the intellectual citadel of Nigeria – ended up with a man like Ayodele Fayose as governor is still a puzzle to me.

Fayose is largely known, not for people-oriented programs and policies executed, but for his many comic street runs which have now become a regular characteristic of his administration. He holds the record for strange and intriguing politics but never for outstanding performance.

He also holds the record for taking first position in many respects. Check these out:

1. As far as can be ascertained he is the first elected governor to make many end runs to street corner “mama put” and palm wine “joints” for his beloved amala and ewedu accompanied with bouts of palm wine.

2. He remains perhaps the only elected governor who was danfo and truck driver before becoming governor

3. He is first governor to internationalize his opposition to the President and Commander-in-Chief. Fayose reportedly went to China to ask the international community not to help President Buhari solve the country’s economic problems. Meanwhile, he is unable to pay his workers their due salary for many months now owing to declining oil revenue

4. In May 2016, Fayose became the first state governor to ban cattle grazing and rearing after cattle herdsmen carried out attack on Oke-Ako in Ikole local government area of the State. This is perhaps his only achievement, if you ask me.

5. And now, he has again become the first state governor to declare a strike action for failing to fulfil his responsibilities to his workers

Strange and sometimes contradictory as his methods may be, questions may be asked as to whether the declaration of strike is not unconstitutional action. Indeed, does his action not amount to abdication of responsibility? How on earth could a governor declare a strike even if it is a joke?