The Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has declared that his benefactor and immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, remains his boss for life.
The Governor also joined other prominent Nigerians including the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, to eulogise the wife of Kayode Fayemi, Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi for her literary prowess and a strong voice for the rights of women’s gender equality.
Adeleye-Fayemi was the guest author at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja Chapter, June Reading/Writers dialogue held during the weekend at Mamman Vatsa Writers Village, Abuja.
Oyebanji, in his brief remark at the event, elicited prolonged applause when he publicly referred to Fayemi as his boss for life, giving the kind of acrimonious relationships between some sitting governors and their supposed “godfathers”.
“Yes, I’m the Governor but you remain my boss for life. Thank you for your support, thank you for being the burden bearer. I’m absolutely grateful for not leaving me alone,” he said.
He commended Fayemi’s wife who was celebrated at the event for the honour done to Ekiti state, for her contributions to knowledge through her writings and advocacy for women’s empowerment, gender equality and in ensuring women have choices.
Oyebanji noted that Nigeria is a country of established writers and that if people spend so much resources and effort to write, there is a need to ensure that the work does not go unnoticed.
He added that it was imperative to ensure that the work of Nigerian authors lead to a greater society, especially in a country where reading culture is going into extinction.
“There are a lot of ANA members that have been in government and they have done well in the time past. We still have many of them in government and they are holding very critical positions in government. ANA Abuja is better placed because of location. So, in Ekiti, we will provide platform for so many of them to come and do this kind of reading.
“I’m not a member of ANA, but I will collaborate with them in Ekiti when I go back, we are having something like this in August, we will give them all necessary support. I believe in what you are doing,” he said.
Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja Chapter, in his opening remarks, said the gathering was to discuss the literary work of Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, the guest author, to celebrate her accomplishments and dialogue on the transformative power of writing in social advocacy.
On his part, the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, lauded Adeleye-Fayemi for her writings and push for the rights of women, declaring that he was totally in support of the struggle for a 35 percent affirmative action for women, a policy that demands 35 percent involvement of women in all governance processes.
He also said he would support the passage of the gender equality bill when it is brought back to the National Assembly.
The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District urged Adeleye-Fayemi and many other women activists championing the course of women in the country, to be more united in the mobilisation of their spouses at various levels, Senate, House of Representatives, state governors, ministers and civil society, among others to ensure seamless passage of the bill by 10th National Assembly.
Bamidele said: “The bill is saying that for every elective position, reserve one-third for women and it was very specific. Out of the 109 Senators, three per state, reserve one seat for woman. And out of the 360 Federal House of Representative members reserve a certain percentage for number for women, it was very specific.
“You know that our legal system is a creation of our political system. It will take some concerted efforts. You can write about this for a long time, but let the activists among the writers take the necessary steps. When this gender bill did not pass in the ninth assembly, some of us were almost shedding tears because it was this close, just a few numbers.
“It means that if more work has been done because we have political and cultural impediments inhibiting against this. So, we are in a position to all work together and for the 10th assembly ably represented here, we can assure you our support,” he said.
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Fayemi, however, said he also received heat from his wife’s writings as a public official and governor of Ekiti state, saying the issues his wife took up in her writings were about dismantling patriarchy, unsettling established practices and ensuring the improved condition of the society.
“If that is what you do and you are married to one of the supposed problems in society, leaders, particularly political leaders, it can be quite challenging but I looked on, sometimes I encourage her,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of writing, saying it serves to bridge the gap between memory and the forgotten.
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