By Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti
There were a lot of side attractions on October 16, 2018, during the inauguration ceremony of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi as the governor of Ekiti state for the second term, however there is an action that has continued to generate discussion within and outside the state
This was the action of the first Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi who in public glare knelt down fully and doing obeisance for the Ooni Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, not minding her position as the wife of the Governor of Ekiti State.
Erelu Fayemi, a woman of letters, holds a BA as far back as (1984) Sand MA (1988) in History, from the University of Ife, Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She is a UN Women Nigeria Senior Advisor, and was recently appointed as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College, University of London and she is a widely travelled global citizen whose work and advocacy has taken her to at least 75 countries on all continents.
She has served as the Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), an international development organisation for African women based in London, UK, from 1991-2001 as well as Executive Director of the African Women’s Development Fund, (AWDF) – the first Africa-wide grant-making fund, which supports the work of organizations promoting women’s rights in Africa, from 2001-2010, and as far back as 2000, she co-founded the African Women’s Development Fund, (AWDF) – the first Africa-wide grant-making fund, which supports the work of organizations promoting women’s rights in Africa, just to mention few achievements.
Some people said, `this woman who has seen it all in her life with her position, kneeling down fully like this for somebody in the public is condemnable, while some said may be she is yet to realize that she is now First Lady of a state`
But some people has continued to applaud her for showcasing the value of her parent's virtues in her, for representing Ekiti women in commendable ways, for bringing out and restoring part of the core values which her husband, Dr. Fayemi has vowed to restore in Ekiti during his second coming as Governor. They said there is a lot to learn from her.
The people said she ordinarily ought to have allowed her brilliancy, beauty, exposure, position, and wealth or the costly apparel she was putting on to get into her head but she simply disappointed the above mentioned qualities and humbled herself to showcase Ekiti and pure Yoruba Cultural value to bring honour to the state.
Some however, specifically commended and thanked Erelu Fayemi as she is the representative of all women in Ekiti state for giving the deserving honour to the Arole Oodua, Iku Baba yeye, the highly revered traditional ruler who is believed to be the first among the Yoruba Obas, and traditionally considered the 401st terrestrial Spirit, Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi, saying her actions had not only brought more honours to her but blessings and honour to her, her husband, the government of Fayemi and Ekiti women in general.
This beautiful and excellent mother has not just done this to the Oba because it was Ooni of Ife but there are testimonies to show that Erelu Fayemi a superb, and humble woman just as many people have been talking so much about her robust public relation and kindness to people.
Another occurrence of such action was recorded recently during the 37th delegate conference of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) which came up in Lagos at the Lagos Airport Hotel Conference Hall, when the just inaugurated Ekiti First lady was caught supporting Mama Mabel Segun, Author of `my father`s Daughter` to sit down in hall during the event Erelu Fayemi was the only woman among other women on the high table who knelt down for the great feminist Author of the 1970s fame.
With this, Ekiti is fortunate to have gotten such a woman as the First Lady because by her actions, no doubt, she will continue to bring glory, honour, and blessings to Ekiti and Ekiti daughters, wives and mothers would continue to be seen as responsible, honourable, humble, cultured and mannered because she has showcased the value of her parental upbringing, for representing Ekiti. women in commendable ways.
Just as the honour and blessings her action might have brought was not only for her and her husband but for Ekiti women and Ekiti`s as a whole, it is therefore simply means that it was Ekiti as a whole that had honoured the Ooni Risa by Erelu Fayemi`s action and should be applauded.
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