Fayose’s Utterances Have Been Unreasonable
A one-time Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, is eyeing a return to the state’s Government House. In this interview with Adedayo Adejobi he talks about his love for the art and why he wants to be Ekiti governor again. He also speaks about the posture of
The ideal Ekiti should be a state where we drastically reduce unemployment and make everybody productive; where we are able to fund our budget reasonably and not depend on statutory allocations from Abuja. I will want to create an Ekiti where there’s a future for youths through sports, education, and entrepreneurship
You’ve left the Ekiti State Government House for a while. What has changed and would you want that life back? I wish I still do. Once you’ve been a governor, you have lost that privacy forever. When I wasn’t governor, I could share a beer with friends. But if I do that now anywhere people would recognise me. What we have to do is to live with it as we’ve lost that privacy forever. I don’t know whether I would wish to have it back because I know it’s not even feasible to want to have it back. Once people can recognise you, having it back is out of it.
What are the memorable lessons you learnt in office?
Be good to people. See power as service to people. The way to look at future is to put your future in God’s hand.
You seem to be spiritually inclined. What do you owe to that?
I’m a Christian and I was brought up as one.
What prevents you from dipping your hands?
Dipping my hands into dirt is not a possibility because the values I was brought up with, and have become a part of me, will not allow me to do that. There’s no chance of me trying to dip my hands into public coffers. No matter how difficult or challenging, I can’t see that happen to me. That’s the way I was brought up.
What kind of childhood did you have?
I had an exciting childhood believing the future will be great. I didn’t lack confidence. I believed in God and hard work, and that continue to be part of me.
What type of child were you? I would not say I was a good boy. I was a bit rebellious. I was outgoing. And I played all the pranks but I did everything in moderation.
Do you find time to bond with your wife and Kids?
I never had enough time, especially when my children were growing up, because I was in the corporate world. I lived outside Nigeria working. I left my family in Lagos so as not to disrupt my children’s education and social orientation. By the time they got to boarding school age I was fortunate to find a very good school that could inculcate in them the right values. They went outside Nigeria for their university education. They are old enough to contest elections now and it doesn’t matter how much time I spend with them. But I thank God that when I lacked the time, God made up that for me. The relationship with my wife is normal, cordial as it should be. Who’s more romantic? I’ll probably agree she is.
How will she describe you? She’ll describe me as good.
Do you still have time to do those naughty things you did as a young man?
Of course; we have time once in a while but nowadays I get occupied by so many things. I don’t even take vacations for now.
Your space speaks volume. What sparks your love for arts?
I love works of art. I used to keep a few paintings. But what I do is I give out my paintings, as they put a hole in my pocket. If have a piece of painting, and no matter how much I cherish it, and somebody admires it, I can give it out. What makes me happy is when I go to such people’s homes and I see it where it’s hung, I get a feeling of satisfaction. But I no longer have as much money to keep buying and giving out.
Politicians are considered greedy, selfish and self-serving. What inspires you to give?
It is to create happiness for others because whatever I do that will make someone else happy I always want to do it.
What inspires you apart from politics?
I’m a service-oriented animal. I find opportunities to help and uplift people; to create value for people and to assist whenever I discover people are in need.
You sure have a simple dress sense. What’s the story behind it?
Maybe because my mum had me at a very old age after she had waited to have a male child. I am the last born. So she liked to dress me up when I was young. I was always trendy courtesy of my mum. I am however not flashy. For example, I don’t wear jewelry. I remember when I got a traditional title from my community, they said now it’s time for me to wear beads. I said to the King that if the only way I can continue with this title is to wear beads, they will have to replace me with another person. I like to appear simple. I don’t think a simple appearance is inferior to anything.
How was your orientation growing up as the only boy amongst girls?
I come from a polygamous family. My mum had a girl 19 years older than me. She’s old now in her 80s. I was pampered.
Did you experience the usual polygamous family drama?
No. Ours was much different and because my parents were also advanced in age and I had love from everywhere I turned.
Should you come back to power, what’s your dream of an ideal Ekiti?
The ideal Ekiti should be a state where we drastically reduce unemployment and make everybody productive; where we are able to fund our budget reasonably and not depend on statutory allocations from Abuja. I will want to create an Ekiti where there’s a future for youths through sports, education, and entrepreneurship.
With the election year approaching, you are planning a