Oyebanji urges politics with out bitterness to strengthen democracy

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has canvassed the entrenchment of politics with out bitterness as a way of making certain a extra virile, stronger and enduring democracy able to delivering high quality governance to Nigerians.

Oyebanji, who urged political actors to not flip elections into warfare, added that the winner-takes-all mentality ought to be discouraged.

Based on an announcement launched by his Particular Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, made obtainable in Ado Ekiti, the governor spoke on Thursday on the College of Arts Distinguished Alumni Lecture of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

He spoke as Ekiti State prepares for its governorship election in June and as Nigeria strikes nearer to the 2027 basic elections.

Oyebanji mentioned, “Elections don’t have to be wars, and winners don’t have to take all. As somebody who has been actively concerned in Ekiti politics since 1997, having handed via all its phases and evolution, the singular lesson I’ve learnt is that uncooked energy, politics of exclusion and political intolerance are recipes for instability and rancour.

“It is for that reason that I’m persuaded by the precept of politics with out bitterness. Upon assuming workplace as governor, I intentionally reached out to all political tendencies in Ekiti, each intra-party and inter-party, via inclusion, respect and solidarity.

“This strategy was initially met with resistance and scepticism by a majority of my get together members, however they progressively turned receptive. As we speak, I’m glad to state that Ekiti, which was as soon as infamous for political crises, is now one of the vital politically secure and cohesive states in Nigeria.

“We should be deliberate in constructing a political tradition rooted in our Omoluabi ethos. We can not afford to advertise excessive political viewpoints that create fractures and stall growth, particularly at our present stage of socio-economic and political growth.

The governor counseled the lecturer, Mr Sam Omatseye, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers, for delivering what he described as a superb lecture.

He hailed Omatseye’s contributions to journalism, public discourse, social commentary, mental engagement and poetry, describing him as “a distinguished alumnus by all requirements, whom any college could be proud to have.”

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by the Commissioner for Training, Mr Dipo Eluwole, counseled the college for organising the lecture, describing it as a platform that reinforces the values of citizenship and scholarship.

He pledged the Osun State Authorities’s readiness to proceed investing in training and supporting tertiary establishments, which he described because the bedrock of nationwide manpower growth.

Delivering the lecture titled “Methods to Make a Democrat,” Omatseye harassed the necessity to distinguish between a republic and a democracy, noting that many nations describe themselves as democracies with out practising its core tenets.

He mentioned, “International locations typically name themselves democracies. A republic installs an infrastructure of mediation between the folks and the state. Democracy is idealistic; there isn’t a actual democracy, together with america.”

Omatseye described the chance to ship the Distinguished Alumni Lecture as a satisfying privilege, noting that it gave him the possibility to return to his alma mater and share his ideas on democracy and governance.

Citing historic and up to date examples, he argued that many countries merely declare to practise democracy with out respecting its ideas.

He referenced what he described because the American invasion of Venezuela and the alleged abduction of its president to america, questioning how such actions align with democratic values.

“If america is the primary democracy on the earth, then by implication its president ought to be the primary democrat. One then wonders how the invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president align with democracy.

“Democracy is idealistic. There isn’t any good democracy. All who function republics name themselves democrats. If democracy is aspirational, why ought to the democrat be good?

“In our personal case, the democrat has all the time been half-born. For a democrat to completely emerge, he should be allowed to develop with all his beauties,” he mentioned.

The lecture, which happened on the Oduduwa Corridor of OAU, was attended by the Osun State All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Secretary to the Ekiti State Authorities, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Chief of Workers to the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Niyi Adebayo; Particular Adviser on Transformation and Service Supply, Dr John Ekundayo; Particular Adviser on Media and Technique, Mr Yinka Oyebode; and Director-Basic, Workplace of Group Communications, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotoso, amongst others.