One of the priorities of the executive Governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi is “knowledge based economy”- when he assumed the leadership of the state on October 16,2018. A synopsis of his words decried the level of schnorrer the people of the state have been reduced to. Rather than to continue in the transient game of ” stomach infrastructure”- like the immediate past governor have rightly upheld, he affirmed to improve on the ideal value of the state. Howbeit, the end of the beggar’s style is a beginning of quest to make the state ride on a path of development using the state resources to deliver the dividends of democracy to all. If the definition of Dr Fayemi’s mantra that the electrified stomach infrastructure is ephemeral and inconsequential, then enough patient is required to examine the theories and practices of Fayemi’s conceptual definition.
For Fayose’s government;he believes in the mendicity nature of Ekiti people. Deliberately, he exposed the situation and temporary conditions with non substantial offer. His utter stand that Ekiti people are hungry and that what they required is “food items” that cannot support a family of two children is sad.
Elsewhere in other part of the world, the culture of ” stomach infrastructure”- is a supposed religious practice. Both dominant religion in Nigeria exercise this on timely basis. It is a suicidal thought for government to ignore the real meaning of social welfarism. What has happened to the healthcare system?. What has happened to the fact that during his tenure the state finds it difficult to pay salaries and other entitlements? Any government who resorts to buying clothes, giving food items to physically fit citizens is tending towards building a society of illiteracy whose thoughts might not proffer solutions to basic socio-economical problems in the state.
Fayemi have therefore ended the narrative and changed the unsavory comments from far and near observers in the country. One advantage of utilitarianism is to ensure the interest of what bothers a large number of people are meant. Under this category, various sectors of the economy are given preference to with a view of solving the existing problems. A better alternative to any uprising matters is an adoption of governance that is centralised. Why the bad image the last adminstration cost the state have to been erased, there’s urgent need to instigate a framework that will outshine the “food syndrome policy”.
The first tenure of Dr Kayode Fayemi witnessed heavy impact of real meaning of social welfare scheme. Creation of more job opportunities, empowerment and improved health care system was one of his accomplishments. The education sector was nonetheless- exercising it tenets and affirming the slogan of the state. In United States, those who are physically challenged, or fall under a particularly age categories are given stipends to help fight hunger and poverty. Why Fayose performed poorly in this regard is a “shallow”mentality that the problems of Ekiti people starts with food and end with food. The first tenure legacy of Dr Fayemi is therefore an encompassing practices that caters for all subsets of utilitarianism. These legacies however is a guiding principles to his laydown objectives which are potent in achieving greater feat in his second tenure.
Throughout Fayose’s tenure between( 2014-2018) he never recruit qualified Ekiti sons and daughters to fill vacant positions in ministries and parastatals while thousands of Ekiti lost their jobs under his administration due to his cruelty.In the informal sectors his indifference in the task of empowering youth, old and women is a colossal wickedness any sane government could have avoid.How can one justify a governor who cancelled his predecessor’s social security legacy and replaced with sharing of two cups of rice?. As hilarious as it may seems the putrid nature the ex governor left the state necessitate Fayemi’s mantra to be drastic in approach.
The advantages of his knowledge economy mantra is aimed at reflecting in various facets of the economy. The perennial industrial problem of the state requires the raw knowledge of harnessing the state potential into enviable feat. It requires a solid foundational knowledge to set up a cottage industry. The technicality in the arrangement is what the knowledge economy will cater for. Infact, the technical institutions in the state are relevant in the quest to better combine the raw knowledge of theories for a better state.
Beyond stomach infrastructure, lies a true definition of government that is ready to end poverty with a decisive approach. The knowledge economy will incite Fayemi’s government to seek for more collaboration from other part of the country or abroad to be able to absorb the overwhelming challenges of turning ingenuity to a way of solving practical albatross. In other to balance the chain of development for both raw materials and industrial growth there must be a recruitment of competent minds to usher in a new positive change.
The believe that the bad old days of tyrannicide is over must be justified in the objectives of his mantra in no distant time. The bad old days was simply a combination of ephemeral goodies and unemployment. The ugly trend is therefore a time of lessons and all active learners have learnt their lessons in a difficult way.
Fayemi should continue in his efforts towards ending the poor nature of the state. He must be able to touch all sectors of the economy without leaving any stone unturned. By this, the fight against bad governance can really be achieved and sustainable.
Gbadebo Adeagbo is a public commentator. He writes from Ado Ekiti.
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