At creation twenty-four years ago, Ekiti State appeared like a state that would break fought into rapid development. Many political and economic analysts predicted that due to its homogeneity in terms of its people, its wealth of well-educated elites and abundance of mineral resources among other factors, it should not take much time for the nascent state to emerge into what many called “the pearl of western Nigeria”. It is rather total bemusement that almost three decades of the state’s existence politically, it is yet to materialise any of the experts’ predictions. The reason for its lackluster performance is not farfetched. The state, like a young, naive maiden, at one point or the other, has been betrothed and hitherto married to spouses who later betrayed her innocent trust. She is heartbroken; her heart shattered to shreds!

Alas, oh beautiful pearl of western Nigeria, salvation has risen from your hills; your sun of glory has risen! Here comes Kayode Adaramodu, prepared, nurtured and ready to create the path to your renewal; your rebirth and ultimately, the attainment of your hope of glory.

Kayode Adaramodu (popularly known as Òdúndún) is product of the values and ideals that the traditional and culturally-bred Ekiti man is known for. Forthright and noble, intelligent and knowledgeable. Ekiti is indeed lucky to have a product in the frame of Odundun ready to take up the mantle of its leadership at this critical time that the whole nation is yearning for a political leadership from youths and result-oriented leaders. His profile speaks volume of his capability and ability to lead.

A Keynesian economist, who believes that pursuing pro-growth, pro-development and pro-investment economic policies are the keys to economic liberation of a people. He has had his tools sharpened by years of experience in the corporate and financial sector of our national economy; working with and leading perhaps the best brains while overseeing the emergence of one of the fourth generation banks into the bank of choice today. He is a round peg fit for the round hole; a quintessential technocrat. It is high time we allowed people with the technical know-how to run the affairs of our dear state, rather than relying on political jobbers who are only interested in preserving the inefficient and unproductive political system at the detriment of the people.

Odundun is a leader who believes in accountability and in personally carrying the brunt of responsibility. We have had leaders who would rather blame past administrations for their non-performance. Kayode Adaramodu is a total departure from that path; the path that has only led us into dereliction and comatose in governance.

Strong institutions outlive administrations. One major reason Odundun is throwing his hat into the ring of Ekiti state’s governorship contest come 2022 is the overwhelming conviction that he has the knowledge, training and experience required to build and rebuild a near-collapse structure or institution into an edifice of envy and emulation. A key driving agenda is to build strong institutions that will make governance an holistic system.

This would only happen through variety of instruments- by building knowledge and capacity, shaping policies, monitoring specific programs and projects that will ensure that the governance of the state is not tied to the apron of the chief executive. Odundun, himself being a proverbial white pap that was cooked into a delicious meal by the so-styled black pot, understands the political, social economic dynamics and context of Ekiti state and its people. So, he is not coming to speak high-sounding vocabularies to impress us nor operate some “Harvard-developed” blueprints for Ekiti state’s development. He has the homegrown models that will be deployed to tackle our institutional challenges.

The greatest assets and resources Ekiti has are its ever energetic youth. In the past, we had leaders who only take us “seriously” and consider us useful during electioneering campaigns. We can be happy that we have someone who is like a door seeing both inside and outside of our house. He is part of us. Odundun has come with best plan and schemes to get our youths, in their millions, to feel and know that we are finally having a government of the youth, by the youth and for the youth.

In essence, the #KA2022 project is not about Odundun himself. It is for the destiny of Ekiti state and the actualisation of its great potentials. Odundun is contented and has attained personal successes in life. But he is not selfish to reason that the plight of the people is not his plight. So, I enjoin each and everyone of us to work and walk the streets, house to house, person to person; and declare to everyone that salvation has come to our land. Kayode Adaramodu has come to lead us to a greater Ekiti State.

Òdúndún dé…., omo asòde d’èrò!

Morakinyo Oluwadare writes from Abuja.