Reacting, Chiefs and members of the Elekole in council stated that the renaming of the council could lead to crisis if the government goes ahead with the decision.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Attorney General, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, Commissioner for Local Government Development and the Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Funminiyi Afuye.
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Olotin of Ikole Ekiti, Chief Oluwasayo Okunola, and the Asolo of Ikole, High Chief Olu Ogunsakin stated that the renaming of the LCDA could be seen as fanning the embers of war against the peaceful coexistence of the Ikole Ekiti residents.
The statement reads, “Oreniwa LCDA would breeds contempt, hatred, distrust and consolidated confusion among the people. Any attempt to force the Oreniwa name on the council shall be fully resisted including seeking redress in court”.
Continuing, “until 1928, all the seven communities involved in the proposed Oreniwa LCDA were in their old Apole settlements before they were invited and moved to their present sites by the then Elekole of Ikole Ekiti, Late Oba Atewogboye Adeleye 1 who graciously gave residency right to them with the aim of building a metropolitan city for rapid development”
“All these communities have exhausted the land donated to them by the late monarch and they have since been buying land for their continuous expansion from the indigenes of Ikole Ekiti.
“Our notable basic citadel of learning such as Ansa-ur-Deen High School founded in 1959, St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School established in 1962, Holy Apostolic Secondary School and L. A. West Primary School are all existing in the land of Ikole Ekiti Community including our cultural heritage where our new monarch is always crowned”.
Packaged By Emmanuel Adeniran
