Ekiti State government has implemented the supreme Court’s judgement, which ordered the relocation of the headquarters of Ilejemeje local government from Iye Ekiti back to Eda Oniyo-Ekiti, its original abode.
Ekiti government said it has no option than to obey the Apex Court’s decision, which ordered the recognition of Iye Ekiti as the headquarters of the council since 1996 as null and void.
Making Iye Ekiti the headquarters instead of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti that was contained in the 1999 constitution and federal government’s gazette, the Eda Oniyo people had to go to court to contest what they described as politically motivated relocation of the headquarters by the then Military Governor, Col. Inua Mohammed Bawa.
The Supreme Court in its judgement last December recognised Eda Oniyo-Ekiti as the headquarters and ordered Governor Kayode Fayemi to effect the relocation with immediate effect.
Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, said the state took the step following the advice of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda and the report of a fact finding committee, which advised that by virtue of the supreme Court’s pronouncement, that it will be “illegal, irregular, unconstitutional, null and void”, to recognise Iye Ekiti, as the headquarters of the council.
“The decision of the supreme Court, the highest court in the land is sacrosanct and inviolable and is binding on the government.
“That by virtue of the judgement, Eda Oniyo-Ekiti is the only legally recognised headquarters of Ilejemeje local government.
“That the headquarters of Ilejemeje local government and its machinery are hereby relocated by Ekiti State Government from Iye Ekiti to Eda Oniyo-Ekiti”.
Egbeyemi said by virtue of the pronouncement, all government departments, institutions, organisations, public functionaries, corporate bodies and others are expected to cooperate with government to facilitate smooth relocation.
The Deputy Governor directed the Chairman of the council, Hon Sunday Awolola and the Commissioner for Local Government, Prof Adio Folayan, to prepare a schedule for the relocation of the council to the new town.
The Eleda of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti, HRM Oba Julius Awolola, applauded the government for relocating the council to his domain and for obeying the judgement of the court.
“I want to appeal to my people not to be over joyous. They should maintain peace. We have have fought for 23 years. The day they even took it forcefully, we did not fight. We appreciate the government for this gesture”
The Chairman of the Council, Hon. Sunday Awolola, appealed to people of the two towns to be peaceful and be law abiding, saying adequate security will be provided by the government to safeguard the lives of the populace.
According to Wikipedia, Ilejemeje is a Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. It consists of seven towns. Its headquarters are in the town of Eda Oniyo.
It has an area of 95 km² and a population of 43,530 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 372.