The Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has assured communities in the state that are seeking autonomy not to lose hope as their requests will still be considered.
Fayemi said his administration cannot attend to all requests for autonomy at once and urged agitators to be “patient and law-abiding” as “sooner or later, it will be their turn.”
The governor made the remarks yesterday at the official presentation of instruments of appointment and staff of office to Oba Emmanuel Ola Omopariola as the first Alajowa of Ijowa Ekiti, a new autonomous community in Ikole Local Government.
Fayemi congratulated the new monarch and his subjects on the autonomy granted the community, which he described as a “fulfilment of their age-long dream.”
Ijowa Ekiti was the third of five autonomous communities where new monarchs had been enthroned.
The new monarch, the governor said, has “delivered the community from slavery and second class rating in the 21st century.”
He explained that Ijowa Ekiti was among many communities that presented their requests for autonomy before the Justice Babajide Aladejana-led Chieftaincy Review Commission, adding the community’s case was successful before the panel and the State Executive Council.
Fayemi commended the people of Ijowa for being peaceful throughout the period of their request for autonomy as they didn’t resort to violence and they maintained a peaceful coexistence with the Irele Ekiti town out of which they emerged.
The governor reiterated that his administration held traditional rulers in the state in high esteem because of their position as custodians of the people’s cultural heritage.
He added that his administration would continue to accord traditional rulers the respect and dignity their office deserved and promised to prioritise their welfare within the limited resources.
He solicited the cooperation of communities through prompt payment of taxes, maintenance of peace and unflinching support to the government in all ramifications.
The Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adeniyi Familoni, said the coronation ceremony marked the end of all processes of autonomy regarding Ijowa and urged the people to maintain peace with neighbouring towns.
Familoni explained that government carefully reviewed all requests for autonomy from different communities in line with the provisions of the law and extant rules governing the process, with five towns, including Ijowa, lucky to get autonomy.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Omopariola described the autonomy as “divine intervention” and said the new status would facilitate rapid development of the community.
The ruler seized the opportunity to call on the state government to reconstruct the Arinkin bridge, saying its collapse had cut Ijowa and Irele Ekiti off from the rest of the state.
He added that the inhabitants of the two towns, predominantly farmers, had been finding it hard to transport their farm produce to the outside world.
He also appealed to the state government to send more staff to the community primary school, noting that it was the effort of the Parents-Teachers Association that attracted a few teachers there.
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