Ooni seeks residents’ support for Ekiti traditional ruler

Obalaaye of Ejiyan Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adepoju,

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has appealed to the people of Ejiyan-Ekiti, Ijero local government area of Ekiti State to cooperate and support the Obalaaye of Ejiyan Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adepoju, for the community to witness progress and development.

He equally said that the country would subdue the menace of killings, kidnappings, banditry and other social evils afflicting it easily if citizens can demonstrate the spirits of unity, love and patriotism.

The traditional ruler spoke in Ejiyan Ekiti, Ijero LGA at the weekend during a programme marking the one year coronation anniversary of Oba Adepoju and launching of the ultra-modern palace for Obalaaye of Ejiyan Ekiti.

Oba Ogunwusi, represented by the Obalufe of Ile Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, said no challenge can overwhelm a nation, state or town, where the citizens consider unity, love and patriotism as a strength.

Ooni said, “I appeal to you to cooperate with your monarch to propel development in Ejiyan. Our monarchs have been in charge of politics maintaining stability and unity before European introduced their own style of democracy, which we embraced.

“The spirit I am seeing today is a good example of how to develop a town. I saw that love has taken charge in this town, Ekiti and Nigeria. Though, as peaceful as we are in Ekiti, we have our challenges. I pray that God will help us to checkmate insecurity in Nigeria. We can also help ourselves by showing love and unity to be able to achieve this.

“What we want to continue in this town, Ekiti and Nigeria is love, patriotism and unity. God created the universe with love. He created man in His own image. What love could have been more than this? With love, all the projects initiated in this town will be completed before the end of the year.”

Addressing the community and distinguished personalities at the event, Oba Adepoju, appreciated Governor Kayode Fayemi for granting the town autonomy from the old Ipoti-Ekiti, saying this had served as the impetus for rapid development in the town.

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He assured Fayemi that the town would partner with his government to fast-track development in the community, while also promising to cohabit peacefully with other sister towns to entrench peace in the axis.

“We quite appreciate the fact that government cannot do it alone. There are areas where we have employed instrumentality of the support of our people to make a difference. These include renovation of our market, provision of uniforms for indigent students of Ejiyan community primary school, renovation of our old palace, provision of electricity, an extension of the network of feeder roads and completion of a hospital complex here in Ejiyan, ” he said.

For rapid development and opening up of the town to socio-economic prosperities, Oba Adepoju, appealed to Governor Fayemi to tar Ejiyan-Odo Owa, Ejiyan-Isanlu and Ejiyan-Iloro roads to expose the area to modernity and development.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejumo, stated that Ejiyan is fast developing due to love being exhibited by indigenes, appealing that this stead should continue in the overall interest of the state.

The Chairman of the Coronation Anniversary, Dr Olakunle Olajide added that the town aimed at going higher in achieving the dreams of its founding fathers, appreciating those whose contributions are propelling the realisation of the developmental projects focused on by the indigenes.

'Yomi Ayeleso