EKITI 2022: Shine Your Eyes!

As Ekiti State prepares for the 2022 gubernatorial election, many candidates across political parties are jostling for the number one public position in the state. It is therefore the constitutional right of all the contestants to contest; hence they have not gone contrary to the constitutional provisions.
However, I think it is very important for the citizens of the state at this time to adopt and use the slogan “shineyour eyes”. It is no news that public office in Nigeria attracts numerous benefits; little wonder most politicians are dying for it. Most politicians are contesting in elections not because they want to better the lives of the citizens, but rather because of personal gains and influence as is practicable in Nigeria.
Our dear state is the “base of intellectuals” across works of life in Nigeria and has indeed suffered set backs and cannot compare with most states in terms of socio-political wellbeing. Not only intellectually are we endowed, but also blessed as well in terms of earth resources even more than some countries across the world. As we appreciate the efforts of our past leaders, we cannot but say they have failed in terms of using our God-given resources to transform the socio-economic well-being of our dear state.
As we yet go into the poll, it isvery important to take a critical evaluation of all contestants in a bid to fetch out “wolfs in the sheep's clothing”.
As we may know that power belongs to the people and not politicians, we have the right to carefully elect our next “pilot”of the state.
Taking a critical evaluation of them by “shining our eyes” will help us understand their antecedents and to know who exactly the cap fits by checking their family background, place of work, and previous positions held. And examining the impacts they have made in their respective communities will help us know whether they can be trusted with the esteemed public office.
By so doing, we are securing a brighter future for ourselves and the generations to come.
Ekiti state at this time needs a visionary, accountable, tested, trusted, and a progressive-minded individual who will turn around our state by promoting quality education, a sound health care system, and infrastructural development, revive our agricultural industry andcreate enabling environment for investment to boost the economy of our state. Ekiti can be less dependent on Federal allocation!
Of a fact, I am always of the opinionthat Ekiti at this time should be second to none in Nigeria because of ourintellectual and earth resources strength, thought a topic for another day.
Our youths should not be deceived by any politician; rather we have to bring realities to the table for them to see byvoting our conscience against the “vote-buying syndrome”.
Some of them may only see and feel what they want to gain through our commonwealth and not what they can do to turn our lives around.
As the election is a few hours away, some of their agents may be moving around canvassing with “questionable handshakes”. Let us not be deceived, shine your eyes!
Let us be observant as we get set for the poll.
God bless Ekiti!
God bless Nigeria!

By Olaogun Michael Sunkanmi