ONI REJUVENATING EKITI VIRTUES
A pride among the Nigeria comity of state, Ekiti-State is universally acknowledged as the Nigeria's soul of education. But as the head dictates what happens to the body the inability of most successive administrations in the state to measure up to standard in this regard has brought about a dwindling fortune for the state when it comes to the virtues it was noted for. Hunting fast to improve the lots of the state, Engineer Segun Oni at the inception of his administration created a department of Civic Orientation in the state Ministry of Information to heal this ageing deadly sore.
7t" January 2008 was the day Governor Oni inaugurated an Ethical and Reorientation Committee saddled to arrest the infesting trend of waywardness and lack of ethical codes and virtues, the state was once noted for. In his message, the Governor took time to highlight the famous virtues to include entrepreneurship, respect for elders, hardwork, education, civility, honesty, and diligence. He lamented the outright erosion of these salient qualities and charged the committee to work assiduously to ensure the restoration of these virtues. Right form a rare perception, I watched a political leader speak with outright sobriety that revealed an in-depth vestige of genuiness and sincerity for the first time.
The atmosphere in the auditorium was charged, as most people present stood up emotionally in readiness to help the state recover from spasm of ethical violations.
Dr. Samuel Adedayo Abe, an Archbishop of Anglican Church is the head of the committee with tested men of repute, who cut across all other sphere of human endeavour.
Looking at the members of the committee, you could read the governor's motive. The committee parades a crop of dependable erudite whose lives exhibit the virtues they were inaugurated to instill.
One of the things Oni is nibbling in the bud is the culture of begging. To be honest, a system that sees people relying on a litre of vegetable oil or money stanched out to thugs and political lay-about to earn cheap credits would eventually pauperize the people and create an immutable society of unrepentant beggars. Hence, the state government has put in place a micro-credit scheme and increased the housing and car loans for civic servant, to revive the spirit of self-fulfillment, higher productivity, entrepreneurship and diligence in Ekiti people.
Again, the governor charged the committee to preach the gospel of transparency to Ekiti people. He said an average Ekiti was in the past known to have aversion for stealing. Seeing with the Oni's eyes, I think he has the audacity to enjoin the people to be transparent. This is a governor who has recently told civic servant interested in searching for document to indict him to go ahead as every contract awarded by his administration was through an open tender and that road contracts awarded by Fayose Administration for 4.5million is presently being awarded by his administration for 3.5million naira for the same quantum.
Also, the Governor enjoined the committee to campaign against cheating in all forms. He was visibly angry with a situation where teachers aid students to cheat in exams, and where those whose lands and other properties were taken by government are not compensated for on time. To ensure its campaign against cheating Oni-led administration has paid royalty to land owners whose lands were taken for the establishment of the University of Ado-Ekiti almost 21 years ago and those taken to build the State House of Assembly 12 years ago. All arrears of gratuity owned retired civil servants since 1994 have been paid up-to­date. 
While reacting to the government gesture, a teacher at ansar-u-deen Primary School, Emure, Mr. Reuben Omotola said the government has put smile on the faces of a lot of workers through the gesture. He believes that "with this kind of zeal, the sky is the limit".
To be honest, this government has impressed a lot of Ekiti people with fantastic performance within the shortest time. Aside from the arrears of gratuity of money owned past political office holders had also been cleared without minding political affiliations.
Those who once doubt the ability of present administration have been humbled in silence by its impressive performance, Thank God, many are learning for the first time that leaders are ordained by God.
This is actually a kind of leader Ekiti needs. A leadership that is passionate about developing the people by making them a wholesome being, whose sense of reasoning and economic gains are geared towards building a pragmatic and virile society.
With the task ahead, the Ethical and the Re-Orientation committee has a lot to offer the state. The people of the state in return are expecting much from the committee.
While kudos should be given to the state ministry of Information and Civic Orientation on this Important initiative, I think Governor Segun Oni be congratulated on this milestone achievement.
 
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND CIVIC ORIENTATION

Ekiti State Directorate of Information Technology