Civil War in Ekiti

The creation of additional 18 local government development areas by the regime of the outgoing Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, has sparked off a fresh crisis as the people of Erinmope Ekiti in Moba Local Government area, have kicked against the siting of the new Ero Local Government headquarters in Igogo Ekiti.


Speaking with the newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the national President of Erinmope Development Union, Alhaji Lasisi Salami, claimed Igogo Ekiti was lesser in population and in hierarchy than their community.
Speaking on behalf of the paramount ruler of the town, Oba James Aina, he described the government’s action as a big slap on their community.

Salami said the decision was a bitter pill for them to swallow, because the committee set up by government on the matter had found Erinmope suitable to host the headquarters.
The community leader insisted that the town would rather be on its own than be subdued under the authority of a junior community.

According to him “The Obaleo of Erinmope -Ekiti is a first class Oba and appointed a Permanent member of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers via Ref No: PXE/ CH/92/TÍ/6 of 26th April, 2000. Obaleo of Erinmope is the only First Class Oba in the seven (7) towns and villages that make up the proposed Ero LCDA,” the statement reads in part.

In consequence, Erinmope -Ekiti Community has suffered considerable distress and the indigenes were highly embarrassed by this singular act of sitting the headquarters of the proposed Ero Dam at Igogo – Ekiti.

‘’The decision is a bitter pill and in bad taste which cannot be swallowed by Erinmope -Ekiti Community .It is unjust, condemnable, lopsided and very unfair. It is not proper to place a senior traditional ruler under his lower counterpart, adding that it was one of the factors used in the location of Headquarters for the proposed council.”

While given the state government seven -day grace to reverse itself on the siting of the headquarter, the community, however said they would not hesitate to proceed on further action, if the state government failed to accede to their request
He said “We are trying to take a normal channel; we may not hesitate to take further action, or even go to court to stop the action of the government.”