WHY EYITAYO JEGEDE IS THE ANSWER

By Femi Salako
Triangle News Magazine

Eyitayo is a man of impeccable integrity, an attribute that is fast becoming a scarce commodity amongst holders of public offices. It is an indisputable fact that Mr Jegede is a super brilliant and highly experienced technocrat cum politician with topnotch skills of governance who has brought dynamic professionalism to his job while in office as Commissioner Justice. We are all witnesses to his achievements that has placed him in an unmatched pedestal for the Ondo governorship contest. Available records of unprecedented achievements garnered by Jegede in public office has been most inspiring and the need to rehash same in this piece has become quite compelling. It is to the credit of Eyitayo that he was the Chairman, Body of Attorneys General of the 36 states of federation; a position that saddled him with the responsibility of coordinating activities of his colleagues in the country. It is also on record that the Akure born Senior Advocate of Nigeria is an illustrious member of the Council of Legal Education in Nigeria, the body responsible for setting standards for legal education in Nigeria. He is equally a long standing member of Body of Benchers, the body responsible for the Call to Bar of successful law students in Nigeria. This symbol of humility and competence was two times the Chairman Nigeria Bar Association, Yola, Adamawa State branch. A major achievement of Eyitayo Jegede as Attorney General was the monumental improvements in the administration of Criminal justice system in Ondo State. Also, in collaboration with the office of the Chief Judge of the state, Eyitayo established the first High Court within the precincts of the prison to fast track the prosecution of criminal cases that have to do with capital offences in the state. This initiative was quite novel and noble; being the very first of its kind in the country. The enactment and signing into law of new Criminal Justice Administration in Ondo state was to the credit of Eyitayo Jegede.

Midwifing the review of the Laws of Ondo State for the very first time since the creation of the State in 1976 was another major achievement of Jegede while in office as Attorney General.
To the credit of Eyitayo was the establishment of the Court of Appeal in Ondo State. He also facilitated and handled the establishment of the National Industrial Courts in Ondo state in his capacity as the Attorney General. Establishment of zonal offices of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Ondo State was another effort of Eyitayo Jegede where he deserves accolades and commendations. Another area of high scores for Jegede was his skillful and dutiful handling of government interests in the courts of law and his supervision of critical governments businesses as delegated to him by the governor.

Beyond the numerous achievements of Jegede and his indispensable requisite experience in governance is what this pride of Akure kingdom has to offer the state. I can conveniently assert that Eyitayo Jegede is best positioned aspirant to hit the ground running after Dr Mimiko and ensure a seamless continuity of existing beneficial legacies. This assertion is not far fetched from the fact that Jegede had played critical roles in policy formulations of the outgoing government and starting from where the job would be stopped can never pose any hassle for the PDP hopeful candidate. The incontrovertible fact that Eyitayo is a technocrat who is very much aware of the compelling need to take full advantage of natural resources and human capital of the state to birth a new transformed Ondo state will be another advantage of his aspiration. The man has said on several fora that his three major plans for the state will firstly be the economy, secondly the economy and thirdly the economy. This is undoubtedly a foretaste of the preparedness of Eyitayo Jegede to give the Sunshine state the long awaited weaning of the state from the financial feeding bottle of Abuja through the monthly handouts. It is doubtful if there is any of the gladiators for the Alagbaka office whose global connection and national exposure to industrialize Ondo state can match that of Eyitayo. Governance at this critical period of national economic crunches should not in any way be the business of charlatans; but for a mind like that of Jegede who is highly prepared and armed with intellectual solutions to challenges ahead.

What should be of paramount interest to Ondo electorates as regards the November gubernatorial election is a process that will churn out of merit rather then the pedestrian clamour for senatorial locations. Good leadership transcends locations, religious sentiments and gender. Concerns of the good people of the Sunshine state should be and must at this point be who can give the workers, traders, students, artisans and the elderly better and sustainable welfare packages. A serious disservice will only be meted to the people if preposterous sentiments is allowed to take preference over merit, experience and eminent qualifications. Dwelling on the zone that is to produce the next governor is needless because the three senatorial districts had already produced governors after all. Since the unwritten rotational agreement will be starting all over again; it can then simply take off from any of the three senatorial districts of the state.

Description of good leadership will be incomplete without ample demonstration of love, care and empathy. This is an area where Eyitayo Jegede has contributed a great deal to the cause of humanity. Testimonies of his benevolence acts in the last seven years abound; albeit his magnanimity has been done quietly and without fanfare. Eyitayo has assisted hundreds of widows and other financially vulnerable women in the state. According to Mrs Ajoke Fisayo who is one of the many beneficiaries of his largeheartedness,"we love him a lot, he is very generous but not lousy". In the words of Mrs Adenike Ogunlade amidst tears of joy" I heard oga Eyitayo Jegede is contesting, may God hear his supplications and grant him his desire to govern our state. He is such a humble and very kind man".
Other heart warming testimonies of the helping hand and caring heart of Eyitayo Jegede for the downtrodden in the state is public knowledge across the length and breath of the Sunshine state.

The spiritual significance of name in the African society can just not be wished away. The name Eyitayo literarily translates to this is worthy of joy. The attendant effects of the aspiration of Eyitayo Jegede will at the end turn out to be worthy of bundle of joy and blessings for the good people of Ondo state.