‘Support for traditional rulers will aid community development’

The Owa Ooye of Okemesi-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, has called for support for traditional rulers to be able to fast-track development of the various communities in the state.

Oba Adedeji made the call in Ilawe-Ekiti community while inaugurating a building donated to the palace by the family of Mr Sam Adetayo.

The traditional ruler congratulated the Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Adebanji Alabi, for the development, he said, had been witnessed since his ascension to the throne six years ago and urged the people of the town not to relent in supporting their monarch.

Oba Adedeji, a former chairman of Ekiti State Traditional Council, said: “There is no traditional ruler who can succeed without the support of his people. I pray that Alawe will enjoy a long reign. An oba will want to be comfortable in the palace. In many communities in Ekiti, if somebody wants to do something, people will warn him not to do it. This is not supposed to be.

“You are doing wonderfully well and we obas know your value in Ekiti State. God will continue to give you wisdom to reign over your people and solve the problems of your people.”

Speaking on the occasion, Oba Alabi, said he was grateful to God for “the development happening under my reign,” and also thanked the Elder Adetayo family that donated the edifice.

The Alawe also expressed gratitude to the Adetayo family for the construction he noted was done in two months, adding that it was “properly and lavishly furnished in a taste that befits an Oba. All the children contributed, they levied themselves to build the house.”

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Oba Alabi called on the people to rally round the community, saying: “I want to appeal to my people that let us rally round for the development of our community. Let us join hands together to make Ilawe great because it is when we are united that we can make Ilawe great.”

According to him, “our town is capable of hosting a university, we should be ready to release our land for such projects whether private or government-owned.”

Speaking on behalf of the donors of the ultra-modern building, Mr  Adetayo described the inauguration as an epoch-making event in the history of the town, praising the Alawe for what he called “catalogue of achievements since he ascended the throne six years ago.”

He said his children were responding to a call by the Alawe at his fifth coronation anniversary that they should come and develop their community.

He said the children, led by Dr Oluwatosin Sekoni, based in the United States, pooled their resources together to fund the project.

He said: “In kabiyesi’s address on his fifth coronation anniversary, it was mentioned that a modern and befitting event centre for the community has become very imperative.

“Dr Tosin Sekoni had acceded to construct a modern event centre in Ilawe. This is still in the pipeline, but in the interim, she decided to build a comfortable, state-of-the-art office complex in the palace and the entire Adetayo family supported the project.

“The Adetayo family has special regards for our kabiyesi. We are happy to note that during his reign, we have recorded tremendous progress in the family.”

The construction of the building, started in January 2018 and was completed in March.

The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Orisagbemi; the Arajaka of Igbara-Odo, Oba Edward Jayeola and the Alare of Are-Ekiti, Oba Jacob Adebiyi, were the other traditional rulers who graced the inauguration.