Ekiti Deputy Governor Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu presenting the Staff of Office to the Obalaaye of Ejiyan Ekiti, Oba Nathanile Olukayode Ikupolukun at Ipoti High School Playing Ground, Ipoti-Ekiti, with them is the Special Adviser to the Governor, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Aderemi Ajayi.
For Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi the desire of his administration to create a platform for the people to showcase their potentials for the overall development of the Land of Honour State informed the granting autonomy status to some communities in the state.
He warned that such gesture must never be seen by beneficiaries as a licence for unhealthy competition and ethnic rivalry among communities.
Dr Fayemi made the clarification and sounded the note of warning on Saturday at the presentation of Instrument and Staff of Office to the Obalaaye of Ejiyan-Ekiti, Oba Nathaniel Olukayode Kupolokun.The governor was represented by his deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu at the coronation, which held at the Ipoti High School playing ground.
According to him, the focus of his administration was the economic expansion and the creation of a peaceful environment for business to thrive through rural development and urban renewal.
His words: “It must be stated here and now that the good gesture of government in granting autonomy to some communities should not be misunderstood for cheap political gains but rather as a platform for our people to showcase their potentials towards the development of our dear homogenous state.”
The governor said the government painstakingly evaluated and verified the claims presented by autonomy-seeking communities before it took the decision to upgrade such communities to autonomous status.
“It is not easy to wish away the agitations for autonomy or independence for any country, organization and communities”, he said, noting “there is no gainsaying that freedom is a natural desire of man from time immemorial. Many ethnic feuds, communal, racial and word wars were fought because of this desire.”
He urged the monarch to see his new status as an orportunity to contribute his quota to the development of his domain and the state generally.
“Kabiyesi, your ascension to the throne of your forebears as the first recognized Obalaaye of Ejiyan-Ekiti is not by any means an accident but an act of Providence with its attendant responsibility of leading your people to the Promised Land,” the governor charged the monarch.
In his acceptance remarks, the Oba promised that the new status of Ejiyan will not pit his people against neighbouring communities, especially, Ipoti-Ekiti, which willingly supported that autonomy be granted to Ejiyan.
He said: “We must continue to co-exixt and share our common heritage with our longstanding residents and our neighbouring towns. By so doing, the government of Ekiti State will be proud to use our peculiar case as template for other cases of similar history.
“Every tendency that may result into regret of government pronouncement of our autonomy should be carefully guided against and avoided with all our heart, mind and might, God helping us”
Oba Kupolukun, who became the first recognized monarch in the community urged his subjects to take everything that transpired since 1982 as an Act of God
“Therefore, I urged my people to please bear no grudge against anyone. We are required to be like the Israelites of old – to be royal priesthood for others to follow.”
At the coronation were: Police Affairs Minister Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd); representative of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okuade Sijuade, Oba Alfred Fadiora, the Obalaaye of Ipole-Alaaye, Ife; the Chairman, Ekiti Council of Obas, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti; Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi in the Bureau of Chieftiancy Affairs, Chief Aderemi Ajayi; Ijero council chairman, Mr Bode Agbeleye and prominent sons and daughters of Ejiyan.
Last modified: September 13, 2013
