TheCable

Babafemi Ojudu, special adviser to the president on political matters, has described governance in Ekiti state as a comedy skit.

In statement issued to mark Democracy Day, Ojudu urged the people of the state not to despair despite “current challenges of good governance in the state”.

He assured them that hope was on the horizon, pointing out that “democracy provides for peaceful mechanisms to rectify the current situation we have found ourselves in Ekiti state”.

“No doubt, our state is at its lowest ebb since its creation. While several states are celebrating development and accountable leadership, governance in Ekiti is nothing but comedy skits and capricious decisions laced in dictatorial spices,” he said.

Ojudu, however, pleaded that despite those challenges, residents of the state should be resilient in their faith in democracy.

“Our people should stay peaceful, strong and resilient. This is the time for unity. We must be united in hope to change the Ekiti narrative. We must make Ekiti work again. Ekiti will rise again, and Ekiti indigenes everywhere in the world will be proud again,” he said.

“This Democracy Day affords us the opportunity to remember our long battle with military dictatorship. We were harassed and hounded, but we were never cowed. We chased the oppressive military governments away. We will chase away all forms of oppressive rule and dictatorship of any form from our state and Ekiti will be liberated.”

Ojudu urged citizens of the state to maximise the opportunity of the on-going voter registration to ensure that “no Ekiti man or woman is disenfranchised”.

“We should mobilise our brothers and sisters who have not registered to go and register and collect their voter card. The power of the people remains in the ballot box,” he added.

“It is through the ballot box that we can restore good governance, dignity, development and prosperity in Ekiti.”