People often say that my friend and brother Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state and I are giving the Buhari government a run for their money more than any other duo in the country.
Though he and I come from very different backgrounds and our approach and styles, when confronting issues, are very different, they say that we are both deeply committed to our cause; we are both contentious and we have the courage of our convictions.
They also say we are both ready to pick up the gauntlet, champion the cause of our party and people, and stand our ground when confronted by adversaries or provoked into any fight.
There is no doubt about the fact that both Fayose and I are similar in some ways. We both draw immense strength from our respective christian testimonies and the power of our faith. We also both have a similar world-view and a fair idea about who the real troublers of our nation, our faith and our people are.
We are both what we are because of what we have been subjected to by the system and the powers that be over the years, and because of what we have both suffered and been through in the hands of those we once reverred, worked with and trusted. We are also both praying men who have loved ones and family that are strong in the faith and that pray hard and well.
I agree with the assesment of those that often compare us but there is a small caveat: I regard Fayose as being populist – a rugged, grassroots leader of the suffering masses and a radical politician, whilst I see myself more as a man of letters, a historian, a deep-thinker and a politically-active but cloistered intellectual.
Permit me to make a rather crude analogy and to indulge in a graphic and disturbing metaphor. In our long-drawn and protracted political battle and struggle for power, he uses a thick and blunt cudgel to fight our enemies and batter them to death, whilst I use a thin and sharp rapier with which I slowly carve them up, slice them to pieces and bleed them into eternity.
He crushes their bones with rage and brutal efficiency, whilst I clinically cut them up with ruthless precision. Both methods are equally effective and both achieve their objectives.
Yet, whatever our differences may be in terms of style, choice of weapon, method of battle, substance and approach, they say that we have both courageously stood up to the Buhari government and that we have both defiantly spoken our minds about what is going on in our country today. Consequently, they have described us both as “lions and warriors”.
This is very kind of them though, in all fairness, I believe that writers and columnists like Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Professor Femi Aribisala and Mr. Jude Ndukwe; politicians like Governor Seriake Dickson, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Dr. Sulaiman Olanrewaju Abubakar (the former Minister of National Planning), bloggers like Mr. Deji Adeyanju and Mrs. Aziza Uko; journalists like Mr. Shaka Momodu and Mr. Yemi Adebowale and countless others fall into that “lion” category as well. They have also displayed immense courage. It is not just Ayo Fayose and yours truly.
Some of our friends have also pointed out that all that we said about President Buhari and the APC during the Presidential campaign last year has proved to be prophetic. All these kind words and this rather generous assessment and categorisation of both Fayose and I are very encouraging and I appreciate them.
Unlike in other nations where vocal opposition is encouraged and regarded as an essential part of democracy and an effective way of keeping those in power on their toes, when one sticks one’s neck out for country and people and is loud in the opposition to government in this part of the world, it is a thankless, unappreciated, lonely and dangerous road.
And sadly, more often than not, one is mocked, shunned, despised, hated, misunderstood, persecuted, maligned, insulted and misrepresented for taking it.
This is especially so when one is dealing with a callous and ruthless government, like we have in our country today. We are being led by a group of people who have a hidden agenda, who hate their perceived enemies and detractors, who are inherently incompetent, and who are manifestly unjust.
We are burdened with a government which cannot abide criticism, which is scared of its own shadow, which has no decency or honour, and which has failed in all its ways.
We are saddled with a leadership who have offended God and man, who have ruined our nation, who have impoverished our people, who are bereft of ideas and who are hell bent on intimidating the opposition and silencing the voice of truth.
I am touched by the words of those that are encouraging those of us that have chosen to take that road of vocal and virile opposition and this is especially so because I have tremendous respect and affection for Ayo Fayose and I consider him to be one of our brightest rising stars in the South-West.
PREMIUM TIMES
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Femi Fani-Kayode has no shame.Despite the atrocities committed by Ayodele Fayose in the last Ekiti election(with evidences) should be ashamed to associating himself(Fani-Kayode) with Fayose.Birds of same feather,folk together.