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On this Wednesday afternoon, in the study of his Abuja home, was Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti State. He looked relaxed in a multicoloured cotton shirt and black trousers. His midsized study was packed full of magazines and books on governance, leadership, diplomacy, war, and any subject you can imagine. It is obvious Fayemi is an avid reader, and since leaving office 16 months ago as Ekiti governor and chairman of the governors’ collective, he has immersed himself in books.
Besides, Fayemi said: “And I’ve also not been totally disconnected from my local front. Yes, we have a new governor in office, but the governor is from my party. He was Secretary to the state government when I was governor. And to a large extent, I played a critical role in his coming to office. So, I’ve been involved in some of the developmental work that was carried over from my period in office.
Fayemi’s confession about being a little too serious should not come as a surprise. Nothing about him typifies the average Nigerian politician. In a society that thrives on retail politics, where political actors have to dance on the street, eat roast corn publicly, and essentially ‘dumb down’ to connect with the masses, Fayemi, with his PhD in War Studies, is the professorial type, who speaks in a magisterial style.
A summary of that ‘lecture’ will suffice here: Africa has long been at a disadvantage in the global political interplay, often treated as a pawn or site of struggle between major powers rather than an equal partner setting its own agenda. Despite goals like the Africa 2063 agenda and the Continental Free Trade Agreement, Africa has struggled to define and pursue its best interests collectively.
According to the Fragile States Index by the Fund for Peace, several African countries rank among the most fragile states globally, including Somalia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. While Asia has its share of political challenges, including authoritarian regimes and ethnic conflicts, the overall stability and governance in many Asian countries tend to be stronger compared to some African nations.
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