By Correspondent in Ado-Ekiti.
Agitations by seven communities in Ikole-West Local Council Development Area over the siting of the headquarters in Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti on Sunday, took a new dimension as the communities took their case to their ancestors.
The traditional rulers in the aggrieved communities led their subjects to their ancestral Oreniwa market square located at Isaba-Ekiti to seek for divine intervention on the matter.
The residents offered prayers in Christian, Islamic and traditional ways for their request to be granted and touch the heart of those behind the LCDA creation, to right the wrong.
The seven aggrieved traditional rulers and their subjects urged the state government to have a rethink on its decision and do what is right.
Speaking on behalf of other traditional rulers, the Olotunja of Ootunja-Ekiti, Oba Adedeji Fagbamila, said that the seven communities had resolved that none of their indigenes should accept political appointment at the LCDA.
“We have all resolved not to participate in any election and henceforth, stop paying our tax until our rights are restored and any of our indigenes that accept political appointment will be disown.
“We are engaging in our rightful agitation, because it is our future that is at stake and our inalienable right to self-determination.
“I want to assure you all that our amiable governor has no hand in this purported location of the council secretariat at Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti and sure that he will right the wrong,”the traditional ruler said.
He appealed to the state government to relocate the headquarters to Usin-Ekiti, where the seven communities had agreed that it should be sited.
Our Correspondent recalls that the seven traditional rulers had on September 8, led their subjects to stage a peaceful protest, expressing dissatisfaction on the location of headquarters in Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti.
They appealed to Gov. Kayode Fayemi to relocate the council headquarters from Ijesa-Isu to Usin-Ekiti,in the interest of peaceful coexistence in the state.
Oba Fagbamila commended the protestants for their peaceful conduct.
Dr Lanre Ayejuyo, who is the spokesperson for the seven communities, while addressing the gathering said: “Some powerful forces are behind the action”, adding that”the development is injustice and unfair”.
“We want to assure you that this is an error that cannot see the light of the day because it is an injustice.
“We appeal to Gov. Kayode Fayemi and the Chairman, LCDA Creation Committee, who is also the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Wale Fapohunda to do Justice and what is right.
He recalled that the communities had been agitating for equity, but that “the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi defied them.”
He said that the communities remained resolute in their agitation that Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti, which is 12kms away from other communities “cannot be the headquarters of the LCDA.”
Another son of the community and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Ben Oguntuase, said that making a lone community to head seven others that were linear, geographically, with same culture and traditions was not the best decision.
He, however, said that the communities would continue to make their grievances known in accordance with the law until their demands were met.
Reacting to the agitations, the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Wale Fapohunda, urged the aggrieved communities to continue to thread the path of peace and allow the issue to be resolved amicably.
“We are all aware of the workload on Mr Governor, he has been busy with the development and how to make the state better, he will find time to meet with them, but I appeal to them to kindly exercise a little more patient.
“The secretariat of the Committee has advised that their agitation is being considered along with several others and once Mr Governor is chanced, he will meet with them to ensure that all areas are addressed.
“Please wait for Government’s decision,”he appealed to the aggrieved communities.
