By Adeleye Kunle
Oba Ajibade Fasiku, a First Class Monarch and Elekole of Ikole Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State, protested yesterday that Governor Kayode Fayemi had wrongfully carved out a section of the town to create a new local council development area called Oreniwa.
Oba Fasiku argued that, while he was not opposed to the creation of a new LCDA to promote development and participatory democracy, it should not be done without consultation with relevant leaders.
The town faulted the proposed Oreniwa acronym given to the LCDA in a petition addressed to Fayemi on August 5, 2022, but suggested names such as Ikole South-west or Ikole North-west.
“There is, therefore, no doubt that the establishment of local government areas would normally usher in incalculable infrastructure, be it socially, economically, or politically, in any part of the country, but it should never be done to create unprecedented upheaval and avoidable acrimony among previously peacefully coexisting communities.”
“However, our current position is painstakingly based on the emphatic erroneous naming of an LCDA as “Oreniwa” LCDA for the seven communities currently existing on the land of lkole Ekiti.”
“To exacerbate the symbolic situation, we have our notable basic citadels of learning such as Ansa-ur-Deen High School founded in 1959, St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School founded in 1962, Holy Apostolic Secondary School, and L. A. West Primary School, all of which will be located in Oreniwa.”
“Your Excellency, Sir, the name “Oreniwa LCDA” would engender contempt, hatred, distrust, astronomical acrimonies, and confusion among the people, who had intermarried for several decades and lived as brothers and sisters in the past.”
The community has unequivocally stated that any naming that does not include the suffix Ikole Ekiti in the creation of autonomous LCDAs will be viewed as a provocation and an attempt to fan the flames of war against the Ikole people.
“We propose that such LCDA be named “Ikole South-west LCDA” or “Ikole North-west LCDA.” However, our current position should never be interpreted or misrepresented as being in opposition to your administration.”
Princess Adekemi Ajana, Regent of Iyemero Ekiti in Ikole Local Government, has also distanced the people of the community from the proposed Ayede Local Council Development Area.
The regent said in a statement on Friday that the town in the Ajoni Local Council Development Area would never end its over 500-year historical, political, cultural, and socioeconomic relationship with communities in the Ekamefa area.
Ajana stated that any attempt to force Iyemero Ekiti to join the proposed Ayede LCDA would be met with resistance.
The regent urged the state government and the LCDA’s implementation committee not to cave in to the covert attempt to include Iyemero Ekiti on the agenda of the proposed Ayede LCDA.
