I personally frown at the ongoing imbroglio at home, and I
condemn any act of violence against any individuals or
institutions. And mostly especially killing of Omolafe Aderiye
and the judiciary.


Having said that, I have painstakingly look into the genesis of
the whole situation, and after reading some of the
contributions, I shook my head. As a people, we seem to enjoy
solving symptoms rather than the actual problem.


Firstly, we need to understand whose interests is the
E-11organization actually protecting? Ekiti people or Fayemi!
To answer this question genuinely, we need to understand the
very motive behind E-11existence in Ekiti politics, and the roles
the organization is playing in our politics. Let’s rewind back to
pre-2007, and the aftermath of Engr. Segun Oni vs. Fayemi
election, the rest is history.


The unwritten motive behind E-11 existence is to become the
de factor kingmaker in Ekiti from political standpoint. Is this a
good mission for any organization in this 21century, and in a
democratic society like Nigeria? I don't necessary disagree.
In the society where I am currently calling my home, we have
political organizations with the sole existence to promote
certain interests, and candidates in politics. But these
organizations do so with jealously guided principles.


These kind of principles seem to be grossly lacking in the
approach currently employed by E-11 in promoting one
candidate over the other, election after election. Recent E-11
approach seem to further divide Ekiti people, and set the
people against one another.


Therefore, I am gravely concern at this point the sincerity of
purpose of what E-11 is doing in our political space. And the
damage their action may be inflicting on the collective psyche
of Ekiti masses.


Moving forward, before the June 21 governorship election,
and shortly before heading to court, E-11 launched
unprecedented campaign of calumny against Fayose. In
addition to so many paid advertisement to discredit Fayose,
both in the print and non-print media. E-11 travelled the nooks
and crannies of Ekiti, from one Ekiti Oba to another, telling the
Obas not to allow their subjects to vote for Fayose. But how far
should organization such as E-11 go in promoting one
candidate, and suddenly become a political arm of a political
party! After series of fruitless effort to discredit Fayose, only to
realize that Fayose is actually gaining unstoppable momentum,
the organization suddenly remember the ineligibility of Fayose
few weeks before the election, thereby, heading to the court. Is
going to court a bad thing? Absolutely No.
However, it’s became obvious, looking at the timing, and for
whatever reasons, E-11is afraid of Fayose becoming the
Governor of Ekiti. I read from many other sources that
E-11unregulated business empire, and economic security may
not be guarantee with Fayose in power. Can this be the real
motive for this onslaught on Fayose? And at the expense of
who are they playing this game of pawn! The antecedents of
E-11as an organization before, during, and after the June
21 election leaves no one in doubt as to who is actually
dictating the tune.


However, the current action of E-11severely underscore the
sincerity of purpose of this organization, and gave the
organization away as anti-democratic entity that seem to be
protecting certain interest. Without looking at the merits or
otherwise of the E-11suit against Fayose, the facts that E-11
collectively, and openly campaign for Fayemi during the
election shows that the suit against Fayose was politically
motivated. And our people become suspicious of the entire
charades currently playing out in Ekiti.


Therefore, the current situation at home may be interpreted as
a revolt against anti-democratic forces that the people
perceived to be working behind the scene to invalidate the
choice they made through the ballot box on June 21. What
they failed to obtain through the democratic process, they are
working arduously to obtain it through the backdoor.


As a concern Ekiti indigene that believe in a non-violent
approach to problem solving, I encourage such approach
from the voters, and my prayer is that the interest of the
majority of Ekiti people as expressed through the ballot box on
June 21, in a non-violent manner prevail over the inordinate
interest of the selected few among us.


Anthony A.