By Victor-Olakiitan Ogunje
Today, September 28, 2024, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye will be 66 years. Retrospectively, it has been over six decades of positive impacts and memorable accomplishments. From a rich royal background to being Ekiti’s number two citizen, Monisade Afuye’s personality resonates positivity, making her a darling of many in Ekiti State and beyond.
Though she is from an aristocratic background, being a princess of the Akayejo dynasty from Ikere Kingdom, this has never gone into her head. She carries herself like a commoner. As a Deputy Governor, she greets whoever crosses her way by kneeling or genuflecting. Her respect for people is unique, boundless and legendary. This has become a trademark and her way of life.
The performing Governor of Ekiti State and principal to Mrs Afuye, Biodun Oyebanji knows her worth in terms of the high native intelligence she has been wielding to broker truce in many stroppy crises bordering on chieftaincy and boundary. Little wonder, the governor had at many fora branded her a “Co-pilot” and not a spare tyre as obtainable in some states. Just like her principal, she has this invincible predilection for teamwork and delivery.
Just a couple of days ago, a reputable member of the intelligentsia, and First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji aptly branded Mrs Afuye a “loyal and trusted Deputy”, who can be relied on. She said rhetorically that with her as the number two citizen, her hubby always slept with two eyes closed. This resounding commendation came to the fore amid the deep-seated impression that Nigerian politicians can’t be trusted.
Periscoping her life trajectory, a deep thinker could easily decipher that Mrs Afuye is a blessed child. An Avatar is better still. Her case was akin to a meteoric rise from obscurity to the limelight. An elevation through Providence.
Since she sauntered into the political arena in 2006, she has steadily soared to the zenith owing to her strong personality and the cult-like friendship she has cultivated. She always strikes the right chord because of her deep understanding of the matrix of the game.
The skeptics, who don’t believe in the wondrous and mysterious power of God are still pondering over how she miraculously earned her current number two status. Her case still remains a mystery and a phenomenon so difficult to lucidly comprehend. They are still confounded and locked in a state of quandary.
What have been their worries? Some thought she was not as intelligent as they are. Some believed she wasn’t as educated and well-read as they are. How wrong their conclusions could be! She might not be as imbued as they are in these realms, but are they as honest, upright, humble, dependable, generous, approachable, and down-to-earth as she is? Absolutely no. There is no mountain a honest and trustworthy man can’t climb. That was exactly in her case.
Since assumption of office, she has brought her strong personality to bear as a loyal Deputy to His Excellency, Biodun Oyebanji. At a time when governors and their deputies are fighting naked in the public in some other states, Oyebanji and Afuye are in good and one accord. They operate like inseparable Siamese twins, thereby igniting unstoppable progress, peace and development in the state.
Without exaggerating her local intelligence prowess, Mrs Afuye was a perfect fit for this position. Governor Oyebanji-led administration had resolved many landmark chieftaincy and boundary tussles because he has a deputy, who has a perfect understanding of traditional and local politics.
Under Oyebanji’s leadership, feuding communities, who don’t see eye-to-eye are now holding joint conferences to resolve their long-drawn boundary disputes, without a third party. Epe-Osan Ekiti in Moba Local Government was a perfect example. At the Deputy Governor’s prodding, the two towns embraced the give and take spirit and resolved their age-long boundary feud. This has become a template in Ekiti and is now being replicated in other states.
One thing has endeared her to many: she carries Governor Oyebanji’s zeal wherever she goes. She propagates the ideals the governor stands for with passion and gravitas. She has that fanatical belief that there is no cleavage in the Governor’s Office. She always flaunts it to the notice of all that Oyebanji is the only man on the driver’s seat, that she is only complimenting. This is the mileage with which her loyalty has reached.
Most astounding is the way she handles some of the chieftaincy cases brought before her. She always harped on due process, as if it was cast in stone. That accounted for why many of the kingship cases handled by Oyebanji’s government were not mired in fierce post-ascension legal tussles.
Anytime opportunity beckons, she complied and aligned fully with Oyebanji’s command that only the kingmakers can select a new king where there are vacancies, signposting the abrupt end of the sordid era of brazen imposition and suppression of the people’s will.
In complete alignment with Oyebanji’s peace building initiative, Mrs Afuye had on the Governor’s directive, led Ekiti contingents to the neighbouring states on how to lubricate frictions and stem acrimony emanating from some intractable boundary disputes spanning decades among them.
Her colleague in Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, was dazzled by the Deputy Governor’s humility, and seeing Ekiti making rapprochement with Osun State on how to mend fences on some of these nagging issues. This feat was made possible because we have a Deputy Governor who can think outside the box on how to solidify relationships, rather than fanning the ember of animosity.
Her simplicity shouldn’t be misunderstood for a weakling. She is not a personality that can be pushed around. She has a steely mind while pursuing an altruistic mission. Mrs Afuye doesn’t tread the path of falsehood or pander to inanity. She propagates the mantra of shared prosperity like a ritual, being the fulcrum and policy direction of this administration.
They say a pastor doesn’t earn respect in his domain. Mrs Afuye has defied this age-long axiom. She is well loved by her Ikere kindreds. This electrifying love can’t be predicated on her being a palace girl, nor being the Okinlua of the kingdom and the head of all princesses, but for her boundless generosity and humility. What an approachable and courteous personality.
While taking critical decisions in her office, Mrs Afuye neither bulldozes her ways, nor rams her thinking down anyone’s throat. Very democratic. Everyone is being made to make inputs and superior arguments always prevail.
I could remember a day when I issued a statement with the headline: “Ekiti Deputy Governor Distributes Palliatives to 7,000 Flood Victims” and sent it for her perusal and approval before making it public. She quickly summoned me to her office and said: “It was Governor Abayomi Oyebanji that directed me to do the programme. Please, change the headline and the intro”, which I did immediately. A perfect way of showing respect for leadership and boss.
Like Governor Oyebanji always does, her office has become a refuge for those seeking one form of assistance or another. They besiege the place on a daily basis seeking help, which she gleefully offered. Her generosity is apparently infinite and dazzling.
She is an ardent believer in excellence. As a way of promoting excellence and dedication to duties in her office, she recently rewarded 15 workers in her office with cash and other valuable items, so that her office can profoundly add value to governance. This was a novelty in the history of the Ekiti State Deputy Governor’s Office.
On the home front, several are on her payroll, just a way of showing compassion and leadership. Leadership is about sacrifice, love and sharing, not for personal aggrandisement as is being misapplied by many.
By every standard of measurement, Mrs Afuye is an achiever. She earned respect across strata: among politicians, traditional rulers, women groups, traders, youths, and civil servants.
My prayer is for God to grant her a long life and a sound mental state to be able to contribute more to her glorious and meritorious services to God and humanity.
Congratulations!
Victor Ogunje, is the Special Assistant on Media to the Ekiti State Deputy Governor