Governor Fayose's vicious attacks on Omegabank have revealed the type of character that he is - one who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. I don't know how old or where he was when the fathers of Ondo and Ekiti struggled to create a bank in the seventies. Today, he wants to blackmail that bank to death because he can not impose his uncle as Chairman or get the other "privileges" of Office. Today in Ekiti, any one who holds an opinion different from his is railroaded out of town or office.

The civil service has been sterilized to graveyard silence. What Governor of a poor state such as Ekiti whose working population is predominantly civil service will sack 14 Permanent Secretaries as his Christmas present to the people, after sacking all Local Government Treasurers and Administrators just to clear the way for a personal agenda? Distinguished Ekiti citizens working and living outside being fearful for their lives no longer visit home.

Depending on who he is talking to, where and when, and what his needs are at the time, people represent different emotions to Governor Fayose. The bank is a cheat, the traditional rulers are jobbers, the State Police Commissioner is a politician; the University VC is disrespectful, the University students are vagabonds, the civil servants are dubious and disloyal, a part of the church is egalitarian. At any and all times in all situations, he is the God sent saviour whom the Ekiti people have yet to recognize and accept.

Since Governor Fayose's blackmail against Omegabank started, we have received several messages of sympathy and solidarity. One said "showing character and principle in our crooked world is dangerous and burdensome. This (the attacks) is the price you and your bank must pay for not joining the Joneses". Another, a Pastor, quoted from Exodus 14:13-14 which reads "Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace." Another sympathizer asked the most frequently voiced concerns by most: How badly will government's action relocating business affect Omegabank? This I should answer in a little detail because it has been the concern of so many people.

For years, the state government received a monthly FAC allocation of between N400 - 500million. Recently this has increased to N500 - 650m. IGR and other revenues add another N80 - N150million. Omegabank has supported Ekiti State government since inception with various credit facilities amounting to 2 to 3 times the size of these inflows. Because government revenues hardly cover overheads, even under an honest and judicious team, most capital projects had been financed through bank credit. The bank credit is therefore an evergreen. One has to have great confidence in the integrity and ability of the people in charge of government to avail such. We had no problems with the transitions from Col. Bawa to Navy Captain Yussuf; nor from Yussuf to Otunba Adebayo. When Adebayo was going, he drastically reduced the bank exposure as best as he could in response to our concerns. The condition was that until we get to know and develop some confidence in the succeeding team, the remaining exposure will be collateralized. This was why we obtained an equitable charge over the properties in Abuja and Victoria Island, Lagos. As our experience with the new team did not provide near enough comfort, we were unable to release those collaterals.

When Governor Fayose decided to relocate accounts, they had to pay off all direct and contingent debts owed to us. The liquidity inflow from this we are deploying to other markets outside Ekiti. It is also most gratifying that as the controversy with Ekiti reached a climax, another state government which receives 3ice the size of Ekiti's monthly allocations and who has a solid and highly respected team handed us their main accounts. Yet another state government far away appointed us as consultants on a key financial project with significant fee based earnings to us. Clearly, God was "talking" to us inside of the crisis. The lesson for us is that no matter the tribulation, if you have divine favour and stay upright without compromising, providence, unseen and unheard, will come through for you. IF GOD TAKES YOU TO IT, HE WILL CERTAINLY TAKE YOU THROUGH IT. Today Omegabank is much better off post the Fayose crisis, and this will show as we digest the economic benefits of new opportunities.

n a state where the legacies of free education and free health are being discontinued for what the government calls lack of funds, several hundreds of millions of Naira is spent on bribes and destructive publicity. For example, Governor Fayose has spent millions of tax payers' money to publicize fabricated falsehood to show that Omegabank cheated the state. In one of such expensive advertorials which has been carried by nearly every newspaper in the country, he shows the original of a letter written to the CEO of Omegabank by His Excellency Gov. Adeniyi Adebayo through one Femi Ige. If this letter was delivered to addressee as intended, from where then did Governor Fayose and his staff get the original in red ink which they have been wasting tax payers' money to publicize?

Secondly, Governor Adebayo's letter ostensibly caused Omegabank to issue a N100,000.00 cheque as bribe to a consultant so as to sterilize a report on excess bank charges. The unfortunate irony in this case, as with all 419 fabrications, is that there being no foundation of truth, you are bound to find the lie somewhere if you look well. Governor Adebayo's letter, which was to make Omegabank issue a payment, was dated the 12 June 2001, whilst the cheque that followed was dated 14th December 2000 - clearly six months earlier! This raises huge questions of integrity and one begins to wonder what else these people have fabricated and fed the people in Nigeria and elsewhere with. You begin to wonder about the many stories on credit card frauds, insurance frauds, certificate frauds, registration frauds, etc. It is a show of shame and a sign of great danger for the country.

The Bible says that he who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. Last Sunday the 25th January, I felt particularly depressed about the unfortunate situation in Ekiti, which is somewhat of a microcosm of a national tragedy. Then the word of prophesy came to me in Ps. 37 which reads: "Do not fret yourself because of evil doers, nor be envious because of the workers of iniquity for they shall soon be cut off, and wither as the green grass" (verses 1-2). "For evil doers shall be cut off, but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed you will look carefully at his place, but he shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (verses 9-11). "I have seen the wicked in great power spreading himself like a native green tree, yet he passed away and behold he was no more. Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found" (verses 35-36).

Rev. Segun Agbetuyi, is Managing Director of Omegabank