A Yoruba socio-political group, Yoruba Thinkers, has strongly criticized former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over his acceptance of a board appointment with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), describing it as an act driven by a lack of “moral value and principle of life.”
In a statement released on Friday and signed by the group’s leadership, Yoruba Thinkers said Fayose’s decision undermines the consistency expected of a political leader, especially one who built his brand on speaking truth to power. “Your lack of moral value and principle of life made you to accept the board appointment of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA),” the group stated. “For a man who once prided himself as the voice of the opposition, to now pitch his tent where he once threw stones is not just surprising, it is disappointing to many who looked up to you.”
The group argued that public service must be anchored on conviction, not convenience, and that accepting federal appointments after years of criticizing the same government sends the wrong signal to youths and aspiring leaders. According to Yoruba Thinkers, leadership is not about moving from one side to another because an offer was made. “Politics without principle is dangerous. It teaches the younger generation that anything is negotiable, including values,” the statement read. The group also noted that the REA plays a critical role in expanding electricity access to rural communities, and that such positions should be given to people with clear technical competence and commitment, not as political patronage.
Yoruba Thinkers further called on leaders across the Southwest to demonstrate consistency between their public pronouncements and personal actions. “We are not saying anyone should reject service to the nation. But service must come with honor, timing, and alignment with what you preached yesterday,” the group said. “The people are watching. History is recording. Let us not mortgage our legacy for a board seat.” The group urged political stakeholders to put the interest of the people above personal gratification, stressing that the Yoruba nation belongs to all and that the integrity of the political heritage must be protected.
Ultimately, the debate around Fayose’s appointment highlights a bigger issue: Nigerians are increasingly demanding that public appointments be based on competence and principle, not political convenience. Whether REA will benefit from his experience or not, the conversation shows that credibility and consistency now matter more to the people than titles.
At the end of the day, this appointment exposes what many already feared: that for some politicians, conviction is for sale and legacy can be traded for a board seat. If public service now rewards loud critics who later crawl back for crumbs, then the line between leadership and opportunism has completely disappeared.
