By Tunde olaore
In Nigeria politics, public statements are regular features of the political terrain, promises which on several occasions are unfulfilled are very common, commitments are often announced while assurances are issued, but beyond the language of politics lies a more demanding question: What happens after the press cameras are off, the speeches are ended and the people return to the realities of their daily lives?
Against this background, this writer after a very close observation of Senator Faduyile’s stay in the senate under 4 months will try to examine his style as he represents Ondo South.
Since assuming office as successor to Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Faduyile appears to be developing a political identity that places considerable emphasis on intervention, continous engagement with critical stakeholders that can provide solutions to emerging issues in addition to a follow-through approach on matters that he handles, an approach which to me is pointing to a picture of; see the problem and take action.
One fundamental question that will be the anchor upon which this article will rest on is: What manner of politician does this make of the Prince and scholar turned politician? Is the professor of pathology and Forensic medicine charting a different course gradually but steadily for the federal Nigerian Legislator or Is he demonstrating a familiar but often difficult principle of public service that legislation must extend beyond the Chambers of the legislature into the lives of the people.
Less than a week ago, the senate president in a tone that unmistakably shows disappointment and disapproval queried how a Senator of Faduyile’s status as a former president of the NMA and professor of pathology and Forensic medicine will be sidelined by a political arrangement that will allow him serve for just one year in the senate, describing such as not only awkward but an unprogressive pattern of choice which can deny Nigeria the benefit of quality legislation from such personalities adding that the senate should not be seen as a place for political reward.
Though Faduyile enjoys a very rich background as a scholar, a professor of medicine with a royal lineage back up, those credentials do not translate to effective representation nor do they guarantee public accountability.
However, all his interventions showed clearly that he has intentionally chosen not to confine his legislative identity to press statements or pronouncements and that he has a road map drawn out even before his electoral victory.
Look at these practical testimonial evidences. Faduyile’s response to the Okitipupa flood disaster, his on the spot assessment of the degree of damage and engagement with NEMA officials before the relief package was delivered as promised, the Aiyetoro ocean surge which was first exposed on NTA Network belt programme of POLITICAL UPDATE, and how he went ahead to present it at the senate plenary passionately as he calls on the federal government to do something quick before tragedy Strikes, all woven together tells the story of an action Senator who refuses to indulge in waiting till disaster occur before starting to issue condolence messages or commiserating with victims of such tragedies.
Rather he prefers drawing the attention of the federal government to the need for action before the issue escalates, leading to loss of properties and destruction of businesses and loss of lives.
How about the Ebola issue where he moved a motion of urgent importance drawing the attention of the Federal government to the fact that prevention is better than treating an imported case using his medical professional knowledge and experience to give graphic details of how important the matter is.
How about his intervention on the distribution of educational materials to indigent students of Government secondary schools, that gesture alone happening at the beginning of a new academic session makes a valid statement by Faduyile that no child from Ondo south should be denied access to learning environment by reason of geographical location and inadequate learning materials but that children in less visible communities deserve attention.
As I conclude this article, one can say without hesitation that in all his engagements and mobilisations, Senator Dayo Faduyile is gradually establishing a profound leadership style that action must be measured not only by the number of visits made, statements issued or materials distributed but also by the reach of interventions, the quality of legislative work, the resources mobilised and the extent to which problems are resolved or reduced.
