Peter Ayo Fayose, the misogynistic governor of Ekiti State, Western Nigeria's most compact sub ethnic state, is a study in contrasts.
On one hand, he comes across as brash, crude and unrefined, on the other hand, he brings simple, some will say rustic, solutions to problems made complex by our acquired ability for double speak, hypocrisy and trying not to rub certain ethnic groups the wrong way.
On more than one occasion when his fellow southern governors have hidden their heads in the sand of political correctness, Fayose has, in his own appalling way, always steps up to the plate.
I don't agree with his politics, I also find his use of uncouth language off putting, but once in a while, he comes up with gems that is worth treasuring.
While some may see his deliberate act of reaching out to his fellow Yoruba governors as political grandstanding, I saw it as the necessary first step in enhancing Yoruba Unity beyond political divisions.
His defence of Bola Tinubu in the wake of the alleged decimation of his political base was the core essence of an Omoluabi. Not only is it not yorubalike to chase an erring child to the jaws of the tiger, it is also against our culture not to first chase away the fox before descending on the fowl.
The most far reaching however, was his enactment of the Grazing bill in the state, and his public show of enforcing the law.
The 1999 Constitution is the worst thing that has ever been used to kick-start a democracy. It virtually destroyed all gains of our negotiated federation, turn states into vassal territories, then makes it impossible to amend it's draconian and lopsided provisions.
While Bola Tinubu, as governor of Lagos, rolled back most of the assumed powers given to the centre in relating with the states through the courts, I believe the true way to test the endurance level of the Constitution is to challenge it's assumptions, and on this I am on board with Fayose.
You may laugh at him grandstanding with local hunters, you may even expand your slave mind mentality by ascribing superior fire power and state support to the herdsmen and their animals, but our people say that it is with your own mouth that you must say mee je! (I don't want to eat this).
It is not going to be easy, and it will get worse before it gets better, but resolve is 50% of winning a war, or die trying.
I know he must have his reasons for frontally facing an elephant, and cynical self protection may be paramount, but sometimes white pap comes out of black pots, and other times, you do the right thing for the wrong reasons.
On this one, I wish him the best of luck.
My Ten Kobo.
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