The Ekiti Government has warned the people of Eda Oniyo to exercise restraint on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment which moved the headquarters of Ilejemeje Local Government Area to the community.
The Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, who gave the warning on Wednesday, advised the people of the community to refrain from any act that could disturb the peaceful coexistence with other communities in the council area.
Egbeyemi, in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, spoke while receiving the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, and other leaders of the community in his office.
While stressing that the state government had accepted the judgment, Egbeyemi appealed to the people of Eda Oniyo to be patient as the process to implement the judgment had commenced.
The deputy governor explained that a committee set up by the state government, which he chairs, has been working on the implementation of the judgment to ensure that peace reigns between Eda Oniyo and Iye which had hosted the council headquarters for 19 years before the apex court verdict.
The Supreme Court had on December 15, 2018 ruled that the relocation of the local council’s headquarters from Eda Oniyo to Iye 19 years ago was unknown to law and ordered the relocation of the council back to Eda Oniyo.
The highest court in the land held that the establishment of the headquarters of Ilejemeje Local Government in Eda Oniyo was backed by statute and could not be relocated elsewhere without the promulgation of a new law.
The deputy governor commended the tenacity of the community in following the path of peace in the pursuit of justice throughout the 19 years the case lasted.
He said: ”I want you to guard your victory jealously, don’t allow your people to annoy the government.
“The Supreme Court cannot do what we are expected to do.
“Immediately the judgment was pronounced, as a law officer and as the one in charge of chieftaincy and Obas’ matters, I met with the governor and the governor said a committee be put up to look into the matter.
“The committee is working and they gave us time frame to report back. At the end of our meetings, we will report back to the Executive Council of Ekiti State for consideration.”
It would be recalled that a seven-man committee headed by the deputy governor was set up by Governor Kayode Fayemi to advise the government on how to implement the Supreme Court judgment.
Egbeyemi also debunked the claim by the Eda Oniyo monarch that some individuals were trying to influence the government from implementing the judgment, saying, “nobody had ever come to discuss such issue with the governor”.
The deputy governor gave an assurance that the government would do what was right without prejudice.
Earlier, Awolola had commended the state government for constituting a committee to look into the implementation of the judgment.
Awolola said that the town had prepared accommodation for the take-off of the local government.
Trending
- Minister summons Lead British International School over bullying allegation
- Sex scandal : We won’t oppose any sanction against lecturer -UNN-ASUU
- Sanwo-Olu unveils EKO CARES
- UNN suspends lecturer for alleged sexual misconduct, begins probe
- Oyo LG honours Archbishop Ladigbolu, names road after late father, Akee Obayanritan
- Kogi Assembly blasts EFCC, demands removal of ‘wanted’ from Yahaya Bello’s name
- Zamfara: Passengers overpower bandits, kill one, seize two AK-47 rifles
- Aston Villa confirm new Unai Emery contract until 2027