By Victor Ogunje
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has reinstated his administration commitment to resolutely use the instrumentalities of laws and policies to preserve and celebrate the state pristine values of diligence, honesty and integrity, describing it as one legacy he would bequeath to his successor.
Fayemi maintained that such accounted for why he enacted the Ekiti Honours Roll Law 41 of 2020, which prescribed and mandated the conferment of annual ‘Oni Uyi’ Honours on those who participated actively in the development of the state as architects and builders.
The governor made the revelation in Ado Ekiti last Saturday at the maiden edition of the conferment of Oni Uyi Honour on 48 distinguished Nigerians categorised as ‘Architects and Builders’ of Ekiti State.
Those bestowed with honours were former Governors Ayodele Fayose, Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni, and 45 others, including a legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe.
Also, two former state Military Administrators, Col. Inua Bawa and Commodore Atanda Yusuf (rtd), and those who worked for the creation of state like Chief Deji Fasuan, were also garlanded with distinguished honours.
Addressing the gathering, Fayemi said the honour was conceptualised to sustain the values of hard work, honesty, integrity, and scholarship which the state is renowned and respected for
According to him, “As at the time Ekiti State was created by the late Gen Sanni Abacha’s government, there were also struggles for the creation of Ijebu, Oke Ogun, Ibadan and Coastal States in Yorubaland, and you could now see the level of commitment, tactics and diplomacy that our leaders brought to the fore to realise the creation of our dear state.
“We honour these architects and builders of Ekiti State, and also demonstrate that it pays to live honourably as well as serve the common good. It will be recalled that the Ekiti State Honours Award was a prominent feature of our first administration. We believe that Ekiti pristine values of diligence, honesty and integrity should be celebrated.
“One of the ways of doing this is by acknowledging those who had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour. It is to recognise and reward distinguished and hardworking individuals who have excelled in their respective chosen careers or callings; to recognise and reward those who have in one way or another supported the development of Ekiti State; and to engender more patriotism and uphold the core values of Ekiti people.
“The award is non-partisan and every Ekiti citizen and friends of the state, who had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavor, are qualified to be selected.
“We are honouring those who inherited our small state beginning from late Col. Mohammed Inua Bawa, our first military administrator, who, I was informed, had to make do with a one-room chalet in the defunct Owena Motels as his Governor’s Lodge. All our past leaders had to make several sacrifices to contribute their quota to the Ekiti State we have today. I salute their courage and resilience and celebrate their achievements.”
Three awardees at the occasion-the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Chairman, Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Chief Fasuan, and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe, reminisced on the topic: ‘Creation of Ekiti State: Going Down Memory Lane’, where they gave graphic details of how they fought hard to ensure the creation of the state in 1996.
Recounting the epic journey, Fasuan disclosed that the struggle for the creation of the state didn’t start 25 years ago, but only materialised that year.
“It all started in Ibadan in the old Western Region, where some Ekiti State indigenes saw and experienced persecutions.
“Apart from that, some of the agro allied industries were not sited in Ekiti. This we did until the old Ondo State was created in 1976. We got to Ondo and completely neglected. That was why we became so determined to ensure the creation of Ekiti State.”
The SSG, Oyebanji, added that his joining the struggle at barely 27 years of age corroborated the fact that Ekiti youths can be recognised if they display quality and value.
