By Tayo Oyekanmi
“Family is everything” is a widely accepted aphorism. Those blessed with good family knows the truism in this evergreen assertion. Contextually, those who have experienced family loss can relate to the import of the message embedded in that saying.
The holy book even espoused this more in different context when it said “one who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”. It is in the light of this that one can relate and understand Sen Yayi perception and unambiguous saying that he has two distinct families.; the biological and political family. Of course the biological will consist of those of his immediate and nuclear ones while the political extended beyond his immediate political supporters. Sen Yayi often back this claim up with a very good instance that most of those who had been with him for over a decade involvement in Ogun polity are still with him with continuous bonding and expansion. The welfare and well-being of both families has always been uppermost in the innermost part of his mind. Sen Yayi can therefore be regarded as a good family man who has consistently shown commitment to both families.
The reason behind Sen Yayi’s reasoning of two distinct families should not be lost or difficult to decipher. Only a man ready to create happiness for the greatest number and even accept responsibility for the well being of others will adopt such model to guide himself in leadership position. One thing is clear and uncontestable; Sen Yayi has built a lovely and enviable families. Both immediate and political. Since his political foray, no scandal has been associated with him. Only a man with peaceful home can have the focus to attend to other issues with rest of mind. No political desertion of any form has rocked his team. He has been managing the quasi family with good managerial abilities that have kept both operating on the same wave length of success and happiness.
Of a fact, the relationship between Sen Yayi and political family transcend BLOODLINE. It is that of symbiotic bound of relationships with profound loyalty, trust and understanding of bigger goals ahead for everyone. Everyone looks forward to better future. The relationship is nurtured with mutual respect and meaningful connection marked by honesty , consistency, sacrifice and shared commitment to growth and advancement of all.
By elevating political relationship to another layer of family is an uncommon understanding from Sen Yayi that should be appluaded. What Sen Yayi is therefore saying by implication is that as a Governor of Ogun State, he will be in relationship with Ogun citizenry that transcend politics. But evolve into deeper family affair and will therefore be duty to make life more meaningful for all. This is novel amongst political actors which see electoral process as a transaction without much commitment and responsibility. Many political leaders even perceived their followers in different light. Many are being treated as a means to an end. Sen Yayi has proven to be a different breed of politician. The continuous growth in leaps and bounds could be as a result of this kind of mindset to be fair to every stakeholders.
For Sen Yayi, the management of intricacies, nuances and idiosyncracies of striking appropriate balance between the families is admiring. It therefore makes a compelling case for him to govern Ogun State with such dexetrity. Yayi capacity to give Ogun facelift and add to whatever is on ground is no longer in doubt with his tour as a Senator. But to really appreciate the import of his doctrine of Families believe system, one must understand the foundation of governance in itself, the human management, political entitlement of supporters and welfare of all stakeholders which then view leadership as both moral imperative and historical obligations to govern with kindness and fairness. Good enough, Sen Yayi is a man with sharp awareness of happening in his environment and what needed to be done to create some level of ectasy for everyone.
It therefore stand to reason that as Governor of Ogun State, the people of Gateway State will automatically become the extension of Yayi family by responsibility. With that, Sen Yayi as Governor will be functioning not as a family head but more as a captain and coordinator with full mandate and authority to utilize State resources for the betterment of all.
Good enough Sen Yayi is with full understanding and have been saying it in all his consultation that Ogun State resources will stay in Ogun State and be used to develop Ogun State rather than expanded on frivolous expedition like clubbing and gambling!
