A Wailing Wailer... Fayose’s Regret at 57
Apologies to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, who once described critics of his principal as wailing wailers; without a scintilla of doubt, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State falls into that obnoxious category. A rabid, unrestrained and impulsive anti- Buharist, he wears his hunger for attention by attacking Buhari’s deeds and misdeeds like a badge of honour. Even when needless, the rambunctious governor must say something to be in the news. It was his birthday days back. And he held a thanksgiving service at Lady Jibowu Hall of the government house in celebration of his 57th birthday. His mother, wife and sons were all present. So were, predictably, all government appointees and friends. But that is not even the story. In the run up to the 2015 presidential elections, Governor Fayose attracted widespread scorn and infamy for his strident opposition to the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari, even going as far as taking paid newspaper pages to suggest that if elected president, Buhari would die in office. More than two years after, Buhari is still alive and kicking. Yet, Fayose has remained unwavering in his harsh, sometimes childlike criticism of the president. Surprisingly, on his birthday, when asked what his major wish was, he said, “My wishes on my 57th birthday as Ayo Fayose are many but one of them which will interest you is that I wish President Buhari’s congratulatory call would have woken me up today as one of the governors in the country, as a father of the nation and as a leading opposition figures in the country. A fearless young man who believes that things should be done rightly, to show himself as a father of all, preaching that we must extend love to everybody not only those in his political party.” He continued, “The president would have made a difference if he had extended such gesture to others beyond his political party. Such a congratulatory message should have been conveyed through his Minister of Information. I would have loved to either wake up receiving a congratulatory call from him or read it in the papers. But since it is not coming, it is not a big deal to me and I take no offence on it.” While saying he is not President Buhari’s enemy by any stretch of the imagination, Fayose described opposition as the strength of democracy, saying, “Those who criticise your government are not your enemies, they are catalysts to your growth as a government.” Interestingly, this wish, like everything Fayose, was met with mockery and outright reprimand. Wife of the Borno State Governor, Mrs. Nana Shettima, retweeted a news article of the story and added, “What goes around, comes around. Keep your circle positive, speak good words, think good thoughts and sow good deeds. Simple reminder.”