Voice of the Voiceless, the Uncelebrated Figures of the Nigerian Modern Democracy: A CASE Study of Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi -By Olusegun Bamidele Abejide

I am fond of the sentiment of the eminent Russian author, Leo Tolstoy who said that: “to polish oneself is more important than any other goal in life.” Erelu Bisi Fayemi, one of the daughters of Ekiti, shines as an exemplar of such development; she works for her community indefatigably. A few days ago, a luminous full moon adorned the sky of Ekiti as the clock of night descended. The moon’s bright light reminded me of the smiling face of one of the daughters of the Obirinkete, loosely translated as “the mothers of Ekiti.” It was an inexpressibly beautiful daughter, the one that never forgets her roots. Who exactly am I talking about here? It is Her Excellency, (Dr) Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi – Ekiti State First Lady. She is a British-Nigerian writer, policy advocate, social entrepreneur, gender specialist, and feminist activist.

She is inspired to serve the Nigerian community, particularly by giving women a voice. For me, “Obirinkete of Ekiti” is an epic journey of women’s movement by Erelu Bisi Fayemi that is fundamentally enlightening women in Ekiti, Nigeria and by extension Africa. Worrywarts may not appreciate her work. They may criticize her and fail to appreciate the lofty endeavor by Mrs. Fayemi to empower women. I have observed and read about her, how she is championing the rights and freedoms of women with gusto. Her noble struggle to enlighten women is what determines the future of humankind. Yet, her critics themselves are not lifting a finger to benefit others or build a better world and as such, they never run the risk of incurring the inevitable derision that hounds those who champion good for women.

To my observation, the Obirinkete of Ekiti is a great movement dedicated to creating an era where all people win, where everyone can fully take pleasure in peace and happiness. That is the meaning of this “women movement.” Erelu Bisi Fayemi is a Noble daughter of Ekiti Kete. In the rain, she walks through the muddy, desolate streets to encourage sisters, mothers, and friends to spread the meaning and benefits for the women empowerment in the society. She believes in egalitarianism, which for many years has been elusive in the state and Nigeria at large.

The valiant wife of Governor Kayode Fayemi – also, one of the mothers of Ekiti Kete, in the sun, sets off into the scorching, energy-sapping heat to reach women and empower them. She embodies the quintessence of humanity and fully dedicates herself to helping people find real and solid happiness.

How wonderful is the sight of our daughter, sister, wife, and mother, Dr. Bisi Fayemi, walking hand in hand with other women as she advances happily along the path of her mission? A female leader who tenaciously presses onward, bathed in sweat as she carries such a great mission on her back. Her efforts are for the sake of others’ happiness, and a better Nigeria. Mrs. Fayemi admirably exerts herself in society, where darkness and uncertainty reigns, she illuminates all with the light of her compassion. She possesses a heart of gold, with no thought of seeking personal recognition as she has given herself today and again tomorrow to encourage those who are weighed down by heavy tear and wear. She is helping our society realize a state of happiness, equality, and social justice.

In 2001, she helped set up the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), which was a fundamental Pan-African initiative towards empowering women. She also served the country by representing Nigeria as a Senior Advisor for the “UN Women Forum.” She was also named as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College, the University of London in 2017. When her husband, Dr. Kayode Fayemi became the Governor of Ekiti State recently, she effectively advocated for social inclusion programs and grassroots empowerment programs in her State. She led the campaign to institute a Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law, HIV Anti-Stigma Bill, and an Equal Opportunities Bill. She has served at the Executive Board of the Global Fund and African Women’s Development Fund. She once chaired the Advisory Council of the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund and also served on the Governing Council of Elizade University in Nigeria.

Mrs. Fayemi is a symbol of women’s empowerment and the epitome of positive change. In her efforts to build a society with empowered women – this has earned her a prestigious Zik leadership award. She is an uncommon blessing to Ekiti State, Nigeria, and the world at large. As a feminist activist and social Entrepreneur, Mrs. Fayemi has dedicated her time, ability, and assets to protect the rights of women and girls.

It is generally known worldwide that, women and young girls bear enormous hardship during and after humanitarian crises, especially during armed conflicts. They generally have less access to health, property ownership, education, and employment.

They are far more uncertain than men to be politically dynamic and undeniably bound to be casualties of abusive behavior at home. Gender fairness infers a society where women and men appreciate comparative outcomes, rights, opportunities, and responsibilities in all circles of life. Nigeria today is on the cusp of a worldview change in its development and improvement and its position on the planet. The two people (men and women) must act unequivocally to catch this opportunity. We need to get ready for a noteworthy future and scale up rapidly in every district, be it in Agriculture, education, industry, economic-related services, infrastructure, or equality of the two genders.

In an earlier time, most women were confined to their homes. As in Nigeria and other African countries, men have consistently gone about as the ace of the scene, and they have been making policies impacting women. With female leaders like Dr. Erelu Bisi, women are being increasingly empowered to fight for their position in society, a phenomenon that some conservative men are not comfortable with. To help and lift women in Ekiti and Nigeria to leadership and socio-economic activities they need to be empowered.

When it comes to the issues that concern women, Erelu Bisi Fayemi always comes in. She is a leader of vast and varied experiences, who is determined to show other women the way to freedom. Therefore, her stand, and I concur that the empowerment of women of Ekiti Kete is the prerequisite to transform a state and transform Nigeria. Empowerment has multiple, interrelated, and interdependent dimensions on economic, social, cultural, and political sectors. It can be understood in relation to resources, perceptions, relationships, and power.

Educational accomplishment and economic interest are the key constituents in guaranteeing the empowerment of women. Educational accomplishment is fundamental in empowering women in all circles of society. Erelu Bisi Fayemi has placed herself at the nerve center of women empowerment because she sees it as an opportunity to develop her society.

Sometime ago, Mrs. Fayemi’s entourage on Women Empowerment Program, went to Ikole Ekiti, for the Community Engagement and Advocacy tour in the state as part of her local commitment and support for the 16 local government zones of the state. All the while, she gave some edification campaigns against genital mutilation, sexual orientation, and sex maltreatment. She additionally said the state government is resolved to step up its war against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sex assault, children servitude and open defecation which is a disgrace to the state. She was more concerned with female genital mutilation problem and open defecations, which in all candors, we must all stand against.

In her effort to eliminate the uncouth practice, a few women who were professionals and practitioners of FGM turned out and renounced the practice. They additionally gave the paraphernalia for performing genital mutilation to Erelu Fayemi, who then got them enrolled for government empowerment programs. She demanded that the attackers and those obstructing justice in the trials of sex offenders should be confronted with the fury of the law under the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led regime. She emphasized and repeated it that, “It is a dishonorable thing for Ekiti state to be positioned third in female genital mutilation and first in the open defecation in Nigeria. This is unsuitable and unacceptable to us, she said. Let us stop the practice since this jeopardizes our lives.”

Should the severe trial of life simply be accepted as destiny? No. Our goal as human beings should be to transform our destiny, to eradicate misery from our lives and to accomplish our human revolution so that we can savor lasting joy, happiness, and abundant good fortune. Within this frame, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has continued to empower women, put up a fight against archaic and dehumanizing practices that endanger the lives of women. She believes that she can lead in the front and deliver women to freedom, and independence. She has dedicatedly continued to fight for women’s rights because she perceives this as a way of changing society positively.

ERELU BISI FAYEMI CORNERED IN THE FUOYE MELEE

In her commitment to empowering women, Erelu Fayemi has faced some difficulties that seek to discourage her from rebuilding her society. One of the worst experiences was the one at the Federal University of Oye (FUOYE) where two students were unfortunately killed during a violent protest by FUOYE students, leading to an attack on the convoy of Mrs. Fayemi while touring the 16 Local governments for empowerment program. The regrettable and saddening incident touched my heart, and I am still very disturbed. However, a lot has been said by various segments of the public, particularly on social media. Some are worth reading while some are to be trashed into the ocean of misfortune. In all, nonetheless, it will be highly suicidal to overlook any of the comments particularly as it affects Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

Sometimes, I wondered why many people judge others from a point that is most convenient for them without piecing it all together. I then realized that it is easy to be filled with sentiments than being objective. In the past days, many people have trampled on the dignity of our humanity using the unfortunate death of bright young students to advance causes that are inimical to our existence and prosperity, as a group of people. For me as a father, and a crusader of peace and happiness, I was dismayed at the way people have since upturned this tragedy for personal gains and instigated institutions against one another, in what I have seen to be a fruitless adventure. The public, in my opinion, has passed their judgments on who is at fault in the handling of the violent protests by FUOYE students.

The most painful part of this crisis was the unfortunate loss of lives. When an ugly event like this happens, it becomes impressively difficult to know whose account to believe or reject as evident from the arrays of social media comments over the past few days. However, I might not be personally present at the venue of the crisis at Oye, but I have read some reliable accounts. Also, the most painful and unfortunate comment on this whole matter was to believe that Erelu could have ordered the security men to shoot at the protesting students. This was a point where we all seem to surrender to the enemy forces. A point where I believed those who are planning to make cheap political extortion against the government of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi rested their cases.

Erelu is a social crusader and woman activist, it is a well-known fact that she believes so much in genuine protest against any form of social injustice or ill-treatment. It will, therefore, be out of place to assume or believe that the wife of the governor ordered the shooting of the protesting students. I was told by a reliable source that, there was an interview that was conducted by the leader of a reliable group. In the whole interview, there was nowhere the leader of that group ever implicated Dr. Bisi Fayemi. It was also believed that in the said interview, the leader of the group agreed with the position of Dr. Bisi Fayemi that, the protest had already happened by the time Erelu came in for her program in Oye Ekiti that fateful day. So, where is the evidence to nail this gentle and easy-going woman in the entire Brouhaha and Imbroglio?

With all I have read about her, Erelu is a woman of peace who will never allow anything to cause harm or injury to anyone, not to talk of openly asking his security details to shoot at anyone. Erelu is more passionate about her philanthropic work than to be distraught or distracted by anything. She is a focused and caring mother, and her objective is never to see anyone suffering. We all pray every day never to play into the hands of our enemies. The enemies are haters of good gestures and most evocative detractors. Erelu’s good gestures happen every day, and that was the idea behind her Obinrin Ekiti Kete tour to all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State. She was on that tour to touch lives and never to maim or kill anyone. To be frank, I was terrified by the violence and deaths that resulted from the Oye protest. It is in this vein that I decided to include this potion in this book and sound it to the hearing of the public that Erelu is a genuine mother – caring and conscientious.

Erelu is someone who cares for all and sundry and would always come to the rescue of those in a difficulty. For example, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi once read about a story of Mrs. Sade Ojo who gave birth to a set of twins in the social media on Sunday, the 1st of September 2019. The twins’ mother was stranded at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, since August, due to her inability to pay the hospital bill. The actual bill rose to N80,750 following some complications she went through in the process of delivering the twins. Accordingly, Mrs. Fayemi immediately dispatched an official, Mr. Dauda Lawal, to the hospital to verify the claim. The woman and her surviving babies were rescued as the said amount was paid by Mrs. Fayemi through Mr. Dauda Lawal. Though, Mrs. Sade Ojo was already discharged on August 31st without paying the amount she owed. The nursing mother and her family, mostly the husband valued the gesture as they thanked the governor’s wife for her prompt intervention.

She also picked the medical bills of seven postnatal patients recently. These mothers had been stranded at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, since September 2019, following their inability to pay their respective medical bills. The seven patients owed N682,300, which was paid. Also, social media is awash with other philanthropic gestures linked with Erelu Bisi Fayemi. She once single-handedly paid the bill of a medical student at Ekiti State University to aid him complete his medical program and has now graduated. The Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who is the husband of Erelu also offered all the 43 graduates of the Ekiti State University College of Medicine automatic jobs. One wonders how a family with a propensity for such kind-heartedness could suddenly turn around and sponsor violence or attack against Nigeria’s future leaders. Look at this caring leader, as she was put in the angelic errand of rescuing a terrible situation that the Ojo’s family and those helped students were finding themselves at a particular time and never know how to get out of such. Then, the first lady, Erelu Fayemi jumped into the situation and did the needful. Is this not what humanity (Christ) requests of us by saying: “I was in need you came to my aid!”
I was told that Erelu is popularly known as “Mother General.” If this is true, then I concur that she is surely a Mother General because she has led many away from ruins into greatness and has ensured that they found their way back into bliss. She remains a genuine social crusader who has and continues to run programs that help to improve the lives of boys, girls, men, women and the aged. Her tour, which is another testimonial of her genuine efforts to make life better for everyone is another evident to all her goodness. I want us all to depart from where we politicize a matter that should make us all sober and mourn the great souls who have departed our midst untimely. As a father and one concerned in the Ekiti project, I urge the youths, the future of this great country, to shun violence. Nothing good can come out of violence – it only begets more violence and fatalities. They should embrace dialogue and consultations while airing their grievances. This nation needs her youth if she would reach the Promised Land.

In all, we may call a stone a jewel, which will not make it a jewel. We may likewise call a jewel a stone; this will not affect the nature of the jewel. Whatever others may say to the contrary, the truth is the truth and what’s right is right. The important thing is to speak out loud and clear, without being afraid. Just as one of the ancient Roman philosophers, Seneca asserts, “What madness it is to be afraid of disrepute, in the judgment of the disreputable!” In any event, truly deep and lasting human ties are not created by the coercion of authority; they are forged through personal courage, wisdom, and integrity. Our mothers, the Obinrinkete members are the lofty emissaries of happiness, peace, and justice in the arena of grass-roots diplomacy, surpassing all others.

My father once said that, just hearing the word mother produced a feeling of peace, happiness, and comfort with a warming heart and that if people gave more thought to mothers, there would be no war. I heard this profoundly moving statement as a youth, and I have never forgotten it. That is why the Russian writer, Vladimir Korolenko (1853-1921) wrote that “human beings exist to be happy just as birds exist to fly.” These are words worth pondering deeply upon. Human beings or birds, we each are here to fulfill our potential, thanks in large part to our mothers who gave us life. That is why we must strive to build an age in which mothers’ faces can beam with smiles of unsurpassed happiness and peace. Is that not what Erelu is doing right now!
Though, your attires may be simple and modest, you wear in your heart a treasure that surpasses those of the wealthiest millionaire, your life radiating with an inexpressible vibrant, golden brilliance. You are never defeated. You are never beaten by ridicule or venomous attack. Never being defeated is itself victory; it means you have already won. One who lives life in such a way is a true victor. I doff my cap for our mothers.

I will conclude this with the words of one of American poets, Joaquin Miller (1837-1913) in a poem titled “The Bravest Battle,” which contains these lines that have always stayed with me.
“the bravest battle ever was fought;
shall I tell you where and when?
on the maps of the world, you will find it not;
It was fought by the mothers of men”