By Victor Olakiitan Ogunje
When destiny and God’s mercy speak, it becomes an authority and acts with full force and potency. Even God in the Bible Says: “I will show mercy to whom I will be merciful to”. This further underscores the supremacy of the unquestionable and inscrutable God.
God showed mercy for the underrated David, he became the king of Israel. The most celebrated and adored in Israelis’ monarchical history. David, the commonest of the children of Jesse later wrote the longest Bible chapter : The Book of Psalms. This underrated man stunningly ended the Goliath’s reign of terror and the troubler of Israel.
Saul, the first king of Israel was not ordained by God for being the most qualified and the strictest Puritan. He was neither a saint by actions and deeds. But he received the mercy of God Almighty. That was why God is taken as being phenomenal. A mystery on duties. Nobody understands the Creator of universe’s confounding and enigmatic nature.
Examining Afuye’s life trajectory as a business woman and politician, destiny and mercy had spoken so audibly and loudly for the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye. It is no gainsaying the fact that she had received uncommon favour of God. A fulfilment of God’s promise that “The Hands of the weak shall be made strong and fat”.
Born into a royal family that was highly venerated: The Akaiyejo royal dynasty of Ikere Ekiti on the 28th of September, 1958. She is not a commoner by every standard. She has a silver spoon rolling in her mouth and the thick blueblood of royalty in her veins. But by conduct and comportment, she behaves more like a commoner. So meek, humble and unassuming.
Her becoming the Deputy Governor from an obscured pedestal still confounds her self-appointed traducers. Some perceived it as an act of political imposition. Others called it promotion of mediocrity. But it was more of God’s mercy and the workings of the destiny, as happended to Saul and David.
Like God did to Saul and David, He didn’t elevate Mrs Monisade Afuye just as a mere favour and destiny’s accomplishment, but to expose her hidden talents to benefit humanity. Ekiti has seen the result in many spheres.
She has in the last three years proven her mettle as a woman of value and substance. Unexpectedly, this underrated has added panache to the Deputy Governor’s Office through exemplary performance, dazzling conduct and ravishing comportment.
Under her worthy leadership and through the wielding of the mastery of local politics, many puzzling chieftaincy and land tussles, had been resolved to restore peace in Ekiti. She is fast emerging as a five-star general in local politics.
Those who think she would be surplus to requirement in government, had been roundly shamed. They have swallowed their pride and gone back to their vomits. Her performance rating had dazed those expecting failure, but now being regaled with excellence in the handling of all the statutory duties attached to her office.
Periscoping her loyalty, she is indeed second to none. Her boss, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, had recognized this at many occasions. Referring to her as “my big aunty and loyal Deputy”. With her as number two citizen, the governor can sleep with his two eyes closed. No wonder, her boss rates her as more of a co-pilot, because no danger was lurking anywhere. Rather, It is peace, mutual trust and cordial working relationship between the duo.
At the party level, Mrs Afuye sees the All Progressives Congress as a religion that must be worshipped with steely fidelity and candour. She doesn’t belong to the league of politicians who turned their coats at every election year. She has a stable political history.
Her being stunningly renominated to take another plunge for the Deputy Governorship seat in 2026 with her boss was not by happenstance. It was a product hardwork, exhibition of excellence and demonstration of competence in the duties she was saddled with. APC is not a party that elevates mediocrity over competence.
With Governor Biodun Oyebanji well mobilised and positioned to win a second term, coupled with the revalidation of their joint ticket by party’s apparatchiks, Mrs Afuye may end up being the longest serving Deputy Governor in Ekiti’s annals. Destiny and mercy still speaking loudly and ceaselessly.
Her generosity is boundless. Since her assumption of the number two seat, the office of the deputy Governor has become a veritable port of call for politicians and those seeking helps to extricate them from a particular problem. She hasn’t failed in discharging this duty resting on her shoulders as a leader.
I have so many experiences working with her. Someone with a lazy attitude and poor work etiquette can’t cope with her because she knows her onions. She is a workaholic, a goal-getter, with zeal for result and achievement. Complaints and hurdles never existed in her work book. Ever ready to go all hogs to remove any obstacle for the success of Governor Oyebanji and for the love of Ekiti State.
In my first encounter with her as her Special Assistant on Media, I was dazzled by what she said: “My good brother, you are welcome. Please, we are here to complement what Mr Governor is doing. He is my boss, my leader and the office of the governor is not divided at all. This is the way I want us to operate”. This message further ramped up my love and affection for her.
She is not a boss that creates a wedge between herself and other staff. The least rated staff in the deputy governor’s office has unfettered access to her office. No room to fret nor exhibit inferiority complex just because you want to see Mrs Monisade Afuye. Very friendly, sociable and accommodating.
She often subjected me to rigour of duty while preparing her speeches. She would keep on correcting and injecting facts to straighten all rough edges and erase any doubt in data presentation. She is not a garbage-in- garbage -out type. She knows what she wants and how best to get it.
I am happy that this enigmatic political icon and outstanding public servant is still firmly standing on her feet at 67. Not just standing, but exuding towering stature and stamina in all spheres and departments of life. I appreciate God in her life.
I celebrate her as she marks another milestone by clocking 67 today. I wish her many more rewarding years in good health and sound mental state.
Congratulations. Long Live Mrs Monisade Afuye.
Ogunje, is the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor