The struggle for the creation of Ekiti State lasted for about one and a half decades, starting few years after the creation of Ondo State. The Struggle can be divided into three chapters. The first chapter started at about 1980 by Chief Akin Omoboriowo and his supporters who were political office holders in the then Unity Party of Nigeria-led Government of Chief Adekunle Ajasin, the then Governor of Ondo State. I was a University Student then and didn’t participate in the first chapter.
As a preamble, it is important to note that Ondo State, of which Ekiti was an integral part, was created on the 6th of February, 1976 by the Administration of Military Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed. Ekiti State was created 20 years later on October 1, 1996. It is important to note that the struggle for the creation of Ondo State was championed by Chief Gilbert Akinyede of Ode Ekiti who also fought for the State Capital to be sited at Akure against Ondo town proposed by the opposing camp.
In 1979, Chief Adekunle Ajasin of Owo emerged as Governor of Ondo State and Chief Akin Omoboriowo of Ijero Ekiti as Deputy Governor of the new civilian government in the Second Republic. The creation of Ondo State was initially seen as a blessing by the Ekiti people because of the serious marginalization suffered by Ekiti Division under the Western Regional successive Governments, particularly on infrastructural, industrialization and rural developments. Free education was the only government program Ekiti people enjoyed equally with other Divisions in the Western Region. That was the reason Chief Gilbert Akinyede and his team committed so much time, energy and resources to the struggle for the creation of Ondo state, which they believed would bring development closer to Ekiti.
With the emergence of a new civilian administration, the hopes of Ekiti people were raised with enthusiasm and strong expectation for better distributions of amenities. But, the hopes were soon dashed. Ekiti, with about 52 % of the population of Ondo state (1963 census: Ekiti was 1,441,850 of the 2,747,121 total population of Ondo State) was accorded back seat under the Ajasin’s administration. The state was divided into six imaginary sub-divisions, including Owo, Akoko, Ondo, Akure, Okitipupa/Igbokoda and Ekiti.
Ekiti was always considered and treated as one over six instead of being accorded respect and treated as constituting half of the population of the State in budgetary allocations. This awkward arrangement and insensitive treatment of Ekiti under the Ajasin’s Government led to a gradual disgruntled murmuring among the top government officials who saw clearly the degree of the marginalization of Ekiti and her people. The murmuring soon became louder and louder and it eventually led to vigorous agitations by the Ekiti indigenes in government for better treatment for Ekiti and her people.
The ruling Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and UPN-led Government in Ondo State, soon became factionalized between Governor Ajasin and his deputy, Chief Omoboriowo, an Ekiti. The cabinet of Ajasin became sharply divided into two, ditto the Ondo State House of Assembly along Ekiti and Non-Ekiti lines. Rather than finding a way to assuage the sufferings of Ekiti people, the government continued, unabated, its maltreatments of Ekiti people politically and at the level of the technocrats who were in the Civil Service of the State.
Ekiti indigenes in government under the leadership of Chief Akin Omoboriowo, the Deputy Governor began holding series of nocturnal meetings, which culminated in the resolution to start a Movement for the agitation against the marginalization of Ekiti within Ondo State. The idea for the creation of Ekiti State gradually started at this stage, notwithstanding that Ondo State was newly created.
When this plan was licked to Governor Ajasin, he became infuriated and decided to draw a battle line between himself and his deputy. The first blow on the agitators’ struggle by Governor Ajasin was the sacking of the leading figures of the Movement who were in his cabinet and in some state parastaltas. The following leaders, just to mention a few, were unwarranted victims of the Ajasin’s oppressive action against Ekiti during this phase of the struggle:
1) Chief Dr (now Senator) Bode Olowoporoku of Ilawe Ekiti, State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Statistics
2) Chief O. Falodun of Araromi Ekiti, State Commissioner for Education
3) Chief Babatunde of Ado Ekiti, State Commissioner for Health
4) Chief Babatola (Olora of Ado Ekiti), Chairman, State Corporation and
5) Chief Akerele of Aiyede Ekiti, Chairman, State Corporation.
Members of the State House of Assembly who joined in the struggle included: Honorables Ade Akilaya (Ido/Osi), Banji Olowofela (Ekiti SouthWest), Francis Aladejebi (Ikere), Ayodele Morakinyo (Ikere) and A.O.Okeya (Emure). Others are T.O. Aluko, J.O. Adebo, P I Akomolafe, Bode Babalola, J Aiyedun, S.K Babalola, O Oyewole, MA Jeje, A A Adeyemo, JA Fagbuaro, EO Obaweya, Bode Kumapayi, A Ajiboye, SO Adesina, AB Ajobiewe, J A Fapohunda, J O Adeoya, J E Jegede, T Adeseko and Olaoye. It should, however be noted that some of the Honourable Members mentioned above were not with Omoboriowo group and did not sign the 1980 petition written and signed by some of their colleagues which was delivered through Governor Ajasin to the Nigerian President, demanding for the creation of Ekiti State.
Subsequently, however, they identified with a memo jointly signed by Senators Ayo Fasanmi, Professor D.O. Oke and Professor S.A. Akintoye; House of Representatives members: Hons F.O.Osekita, CA Oluwatunsin, B.J.Abegunde, ED Adu, A Adeola, S A Adeagbo, G.A.Falayi, JO Owoseni, O Olofinlade, R Akintunde and Professor Opeyemi Ola. The memo, demanding for Ekiti State creation, was equally signed by all Members of both the Second and the Third Ondo State House of Assembly who are of Ekiti extraction.
The removal of frontline Ekiti politicians from government was like igniting the fire of the agitation rather than bringing peace to the party and the government as envisioned by the Governor. The “wounded” Omoboriowo supporters remained unrepentant, adamant and vowed to continue the struggle to either get Chief Omoboriowo installed as the next Governor of Ondo State (in 1983) under the UPN or continue mobilizing for the creation of Ekiti State. It was at that stage that the idea or possibility of Ekiti breaking away from Ondo State became a top priority. And that was 1980, barely four years after the creation of Ondo State.
The agitators worked tirelessly for the emergence of Chief Omoboriowo at the gubernatorial primary election of UPN in 1983 and all evidence pointed to the fact that Chief Omoboriowo won the election against Chief Ajasin but, the results were said to have been manipulated in favor of Ajasin who was eventually declared winner of the election and candidate of the party. This impunity and open day robbery of the primary election did not go down well with the Omoboriowo group. They had no option but to decamp to the opposing party, National Party of Nigeria (NPN) NPN, which was the ruling political party in Nigeria then, with Alhaji Shehu Shagari as president.
The pro-Omoboriowo group believed that joining the NPN and securing the Governorship of Ondo State for their leader would help them to use the power of incumbency to write the wrongs done against Ekiti. And also, will give them stronger opportunity for actualizing the dreams of having Ekiti State created. However, the Ajasin group merely saw Omoboriowo and his group as over-ambitious and rebellious individuals, who merely planned to destroy UPN and its state government in Western Nigeria for their own selfish ends.
The struggle to take power thus became very tough, rough and very bitter, and it led to wanton destruction of lives and properties during the 1983 governorship election. Hence, the first phase of the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State under Chief Akin Omoboriowo was not only greeted with loss of jobs and destruction of properties, it was tainted with bloodshed as some people paid the supreme price in the course of the struggle. The bitterness and barbarism displayed during the 1983 governorship election in Ondo State was part of the ingredients that led to the takeover of the civilian government by the military junta, General Muhammadu Buhari on 31st December, 1983.
Chapter Two:
The takeover of government by the military temporarily put a break to all agitations for the creation of Ekiti State. This was because many top government functionaries and political office holders who served at both Federal and State levels were huddled into prison by the Buhari regime. Both Chief Adekule Ajasin and Dr Bode Olowoporoku of the Omoboriowo group and many leaders were imprisoned at the Kirikiri maximum prison in Lagos. By 1985 the administration of Buhari was terminated in a counter coup d’état, led by General Ibrahim Babangida who immediately released all political prisoners.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Chief Olu Falae was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in January 1986. He was also briefly the Minister of Finance under General Babangida but relieved in August 1990. Chief Olu Falae is a son of Akure. To an average member of the Omoboriowo group, the appointment of Chief Olu Falae meant a continuation of marginalization of Ekiti and her people. Chief Falae was in government as SGF and Minister of Finance between 1986 and August, 1990. He lived to the expectations of Ekiti people in that the only infrastructural benefit Ekiti would have got under that regime was Ado Ekiti Federal Medical Center which was budgeted for, year in, year out but was never executed. Unfortunately, money appropriated to build the Medical Centre was diverted to Owo, to build the edifices at the Federal Medical Centre Owo, whereas there was no Medical Centre budgeted for Owo. It was Ado Ekiti that continued to appear in the budget as location of the Federal Medical Centre. Chief Olu Falae was believed to have used his position as SGF and finance Minister to divert money meant for the Medical Centre Ado Ekiti to Owo to the chagrin of Ekiti people.
Ekiti Obas were furious and there was enough ground to cry out. The Omoboriowo group sized the opportunity to reorganize and the Ekiti Confederates Movement was born. I was already a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) by this time and was an active member of the Confederates Movement. Meetings of the Ekiti Confederates were always held at the palace of His Royal Magesty, Oba Samuel Adegoke Adegboye, the Ogoga of Ikere- Ekiti and many Kabiyesis, including Owaoye of Okemesi, Arinjale of Ise, Elemure of Emure, Ologotun of Ogotun, Ajero of Ijero, Alawe of Ilawe, Obanla of IjesaIsu and a host of other Obas were regular at the Ekiti Confederates meeting with Ogoga as Chairman and his palace as Headquarters.
Though, Chief Omoboriowo himself was not feasible in the group which was led and financed by Chief Bode Olowoporoku. The group believed they had an unfinished project which should be completed and now that the marginalization continued, it became a task which should be done.To give the struggle the necessary legitimacy, devoid of political coloration, the Movement was put under the auspices of the Obas who were directing the meetings and signing memos.
Another reason that effectuated this struggle at this time was the creation of two additional states, Akwa Ibom and Katsina, in September 1987, bringing the number of States in Nigeria to 21 from 19. The Ekiti Confederates saw that it could still be possible to have Ekiti State created if more efforts and pressures were put. They therefore began to re-strategize and restarting the agitation all over again. Ekiti Confederates Movement thereby increased its activities and wrote several memos signed by the Obas to the Military president Babangida, demanding for Ekiti State and additional Local Governments.
Before then, Ekiti had 8 of the 17 Local Governments in Ondo State while the Non-Ekiti had 9. The EKITI CONFEDERATES fought, through memos signed by the Obas in collaboration with members of the Constitutional Conference like Chief Ayo Ogunlade, Chief Tony Adeniyi, Chief Banji Olowofela, Dr Ibukun Ogundipe as well as some Federal Civil servants like Chief Dapo Alibaloye and Chief Paul Alabi got additional 4 Local Governments created. They are: Moba, Ikole, Ise/Emure and Irepodun/Ifelodun, making Ekiti to have 12 Local Governments as against 10 of the Non-Ekiti since Non-Ekiti could only increase its tally by 1 Local Government, a situation that became very uncomfortable for them ,with Chief Olu Falae in Government.
Nevertheless, what Ekiti needed was the State but because Ekiti was not speaking with one voice, being still divided sharply between Omoboriowo and Ajasin groups. The conspicuous position of Chief Dr Bode Olowoporoku in the Ekiti Confederates Movement was also not attractive to the Pro-Ajasin group, who were also very close to Chief Olu Falae. The pro-Ajasin group will not have anything to do with Chief Olowoporoku, notwithstanding the involvement of Ekiti Obas. So, so much political intrigues went underneath and Ekiti Confederates Movement was declared as Anti-Government Movement.
The acrimony was so much that Police and DSS people were dragged to the palace of Ogoga to disband the Movement meetings. The DSS officials also surrounded the Ado Ekiti house of Chief Olowoporoku for weeks. This deliberate oppressive action of security officials demonstrated so much disrespect and dishonor for Ekiti traditional institutions and Ekiti leaders. Ekiti people strongly believe that it was Chief Olu Falae and his collaborators in Ekiti doing these to their Obas and Ekiti leaders.
These barbaric and hostile actions from Ondo State and the Federal Government killed the spirit of Ekiti Confederates Movement in 1990, and it marked the end of the second chapter in the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State.
Chapter Three:
The third chapter of the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State started soon after the Confederate Movement had been disbanded and it was still during the regime of President Babangida. By this time, I was already the elected Chairman of Ekiti SouthWest Local Government and was contributing financially to the struggle through various Committees set up for the purpose.
Having created eleven states during his regime, it was obvious Babangida would not be ready to create more states but, the struggle still continued, notwithstanding. By 1990/1991 , Party politics was already on top gear as Babangida had established two political parties, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and had staggered elections spanning over three years. As expected, the Omoboriowo and Ajasin groups would not be in the same political party. While the Omoboriowo group went with NRC, the Ajasin group went with the SDP. The issue of whether we wanted Ekiti State created or not was a major campaign point at political rallies. The present Ewi of Ado Ekiti, His Majesty, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe had been installed (in 1990) and Ewi’s palace became the Secretariat of the struggle. Another vibrant Oba, the Alaaye of Efon, Oba Dr. David Aladejare (Ph.D.) was crowned in 1991 to join other educated Obas in the struggle.
Since politics had come and campaign was on top gear, coupled with the embarrassment suffered by the Obas at the palace of Ogoga when men from the DSS barricaded the palace to prevent any agitation, the Omoboriowo group initially decided to excuse the Obas and decided to establish two groups:
1) The Ekiti Grand Alliance (EGA). EGA aimed at bringing together all elites in Ekiti, irrespective of political divides, to educate themselves as to why all educated sons and daughters of Ekiti should embrace the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State. Alhaji Chief Shehu Ajijola, the Baasaya of Ado-Ekiti was the chairman and his house on Ikere road was used as secretariat for EGA. I was the Secretary of EGA. The leader and financial supporter of EGA was Chief Dr Bode Olowoporoku .Many notable Ekiti elites like Professor Tunde Adeniran, Chief Dr Kunle Olajide, Chief Sesan Fatoba, Chief Deji Fasuan, Professor Opeyemi Ola, Dr Ibukun Ogundipe, Chief Kayode Ige, Chief Oloniniyi, Chief Olarubofin, Mr Soji Oloketuyi and many others were regular attendees at EGA’s meetings. The deliberations were very robust and of high quality and all members were convinced that Ekiti needed a State of her own.
2) Ekiti Forum .
Ekiti Forum was established as a mobilization platform with responsibility to move from one Local Government to the others campaigning for the creation of Ekiti State The elites at the Ekiti Grand Alliance were to play host to the Forum when it gets to their Local Government Areas. For example Dr Kunle Olajide was the host when the Forum got to Efon while Professor Adeniran, prince Adefajo, Dr Olowoporoku, Chief Johnny Ajayi and Chief Deji Fasuan were the hosts when it got to Orin, Otun, Ilawe , Ikole and Afao respectively. General Adeyinka Adebayo hosted Ekiti Forum at Iyin Ekiti , his country home as an elder Stateman. Leaders were to mobilize massively from the then 12 Local Government Areas to the chosen Local Government venue of the meeting. It was always jamborees all through, with singing, dancing and sometimes masquerades entertainment, which added glamour to the outings. Late Chief Jonny Ajayi, a highly experienced grassroots’ politician and an orator was the Chairman of Ekiti Forum. I was also the secretary, since EGA and Ekiti Forum were branches of the same stem. As usual, Chief Dr Olowoporoku was financing the Forum’s activities throughout the state.
With Ekiti Forum, the entire Ekiti was fully sensitized and it became very difficult for any person to speak openly, on the streets of Ekiti, against the agitation for the creation of the State. Hon Femi Bobade (Adebob) from Ilogbo Ekiti, a media guru, published all the monthly activities of the Forum in his monthly News Magazine which he tagged ’MARCH TO CIVILIZATION’. Our company, RAPGRA NIG LTD of which I was the CEO, undertook video coverage of the entire events of Ekiti Forum, including the arrival of Col Inuwa Bawa, the first Military Administrator of Ekiti in Ado, via Akure road.
THE WEDNESDAY GROUP
This was a think-tank group established in Chief Oladeji Fasuan’s house, near Ile Abiye Hospital, Ado Ekiti, with him as the chairman. I was invited to the inaugural meeting sometime in 1990. We gave it the name Wednesday group because we decided to be meeting on Wednesdays. Most of the memos signed by the Obas from 1990 were drafted by this group. Some of the other members of Wednesday group include:
Chief Ojo Falegan, Dr M.A. Aladetoyinbo, Chief Akin Ogundana, Chief Ayo Omodara, chief P.F. Adeyemi, J.O. Asigidi, chief Babatunde and a host of others. Some of the members of the pro-Ajasin group gradually came in through the Wednesday group and started appending their signatures to some to the memos signed by other leaders.
COMMITTEE FOR THE CREATION OF EKITI STATE
Realizing the fact that three or more groups existed with similar objectives, the Obas, in their own wisdom , advised all the groups to merge together under one platform called Committee For The Creation of Ekiti State. Chief Deji Fasuan, the Chairman of Wednesday group was made the Chairman of the new Committee while Chief Jonny Ajayi, the Chairman of Ekiti Forum became Deputy Chairman. Dr Dare Teniola became the Secretary. Biodun Oyebanji, a young University lecturer had earlier come with his friend Barr Kowe to my house to express interest in the struggle and wished they could be allowed to attend and present an academic paper justifying the creation of Ekiti State at a pending meeting scheduled to hold at Kabiyesi Ewi’s palace. I welcome them and we went together to the meeting where I introduced them and their mission to Chief Olowoporoku and chief Fasuan .Mr Biodun Oyebanji ( now Hon SSG to Ekiti State Government) was allowed by the Obas to present his academic document which was well applauded as coming from a youthful mind. From that moment, sometime in 1995, shortly before the formation of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, both Barr Kowe and Mr Oyebanji joined the struggle.
Mr Biodun Oyebanji (now Hon SSG to Ekiti State Government) was subsequently appointed Assistant Secretary of the Committee for the creation of Ekiti State.
Beside the main Committee, several subcommittees were also set up , one of which, was Committee for Finance and Publicity of which Dr Kunle Olajide was Chairman and I, the Secretary. Professor Tunde Adeniran became subcommittee Chairman for Education.
THE ROLES PLAYED BY SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) AND NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION (NRC) OF ONDO STATE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE CREATION OF EKITI STATE
On 21st November, 1991, the two political parties SDP & NRC were invited to the palace of Kabiyesi Ewi in Ado Ekiti. All the Obas and notable leaders had gathered. The only agenda for the day was an appeal to both parties’ gubernatorial candidates and their supporters to support the creation of Ekiti State when either of them became Governor. Luckily both candidates were respected Ekiti sons. Chief Ayo Ogunlade from Oye was candidate for NRC while Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua of Ikere was running on the platform of SDP.
The Obas’ well-articulated address was read by Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejuyigbe, Aladesanmi 111, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. In the written address, the Obas and leaders pleaded with the two candidates to think more of the advantages of liberating Ekiti from decades of oppression and secure a federating State, which would be for the benefit of the present and future generations of Ekiti people, than thinking of personal benefits the Governor would achieve temporarily in office. The logic of the address was that if Ekiti State was created out of Ondo State, the incumbent Governor of Ondo State could again be voted in, in a rerun election to become the first elected Governor of Ekiti State.
After the address of Kabiyesi Ewi, there was thunderous and continuous applause from the audience in and outside the jam packed hall, which indicated strong support for the address. Chief Ayo Ogunlade (from Oye Ekiti), the candidate of NRC, was first called upon to address the gathering. He didn’t make long speech. He thanked the Obas and leaders who had been in the struggle since 1980 and promised to use his position and might, if voted in as Governor, to support the creation of Ekiti State. Another thunderous, almost unstoppable applause rendered the air again.
Finally, when silence was restored, Chief Bamidele Olumilua (from Ikere Ekiti), the candidate of SDP came up to speak. The House was astounded when we saw people arranging moveable blackboard and bringing out packets of white and concurred chalks. Chief Olumilua became a teacher. He brought out the map of Ondo state, circled the area occupied by Ekiti which he said was about one quarter of Ondo State and was making frantic efforts, demonstrating and trying to convince the meeting that the land area of Ekiti was so small that no sane Government would want to create it as a state. He calculated mathematically on the blackboard what the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Ondo State was and what Ekiti was contributing, just to convince the meeting that Ekiti State would not be viable, if created and would not survive because it could not be sustained by its small economy. He promised emphatically that he would not as Governor; use his good office to support the creation of Ekiti State. Your guess is as good as mine, what the unspoken reactions of the Obas and leaders were at the end of that lecture. Nobody spoke a word. There was dead silence, by ut the Obas still managed to give a press briefing after the meeting.
The election eventually came and SDP won with wide margin. Chief Bamidele Olumilua was thus sworn in as Governor of Ondo State in January, 1992, when I was still serving as Chairman of Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. But could that be the end of the Struggle?
THE JUNE 12 AND THE ABACHA REGIME
With the failure of the struggle under Babangida regime who created a total of 11 States without considering Ekiti, and with the people of Ekiti again sharply divided between NRC which wanted the State created and SDP which did not want it, coupled with the annulment of June 12 election of Chief MKO Abiola, which had pitched Yoruba against any government at the Federal level, then, who could bell the cat?
With the dangerous political terrain where any Yoruba who dared visit Aso Rock (the seat of power), or got any government appointment from Abacha were castigated and rejected, who would bell the cat? Any Oba seen near power is blackmailed by the Yoruba people. All that the Yoruba wanted was June 12 mandate to be given to MKO Abiola and nothing more. With June 12, the voice of NRC in the West was drowned. Then who would bell the cat?
WHO WOULD BELL THE CAT?
The annulment of June 12 elections strengthened the position of Ondo State SDP to continue in their non-support for Ekiti State creation. Creation of State was also not in the agenda of Yoruba nation as at that moment. The one point agenda of Yoruba people was the restoration of MKO Abiola’s mandate. Beside the politicians, all the Yoruba Obas were expected to stand in support of June 12. But then, as this aura of political uncertainty was engulfing and enveloping the entire region and there was confusion as to which way to go about the struggle, Chief Dr. Bode Olowoporoku rose up to the occasion, to pave the way. He was not in the SDP; hence the issue of June 12 was not a big deal to him. After all, the NRC voted against MKO Abiola. His party sponsored Alhaji Bashir Tofa as presidential candidate and wanted him to win and not Abiola. He had his own political colleagues who were people like Malam Adamu Ciroma, Dr Abubakar Tafida, Chief Olusola Saraki and a host of others who were very close to the Head of State, General Sanni Abacha. Olowoporoku was the coordinator for the South West geopolitical zone for Adamu Ciroma’s presidential ambition (1992/1993) when Chief Oladeji Fasuan was Ciroma’s Ondo State Coordinator. Luckily, Malam Adamu Ciroma was serving as Hon Minister under General Sanni Abacha while Dr. Abubakar Tafida (from Katsina State) who was Ciroma’s coordinator for part of the North was also Hon. Minister for Health under the same General Sanni Abacha, the Head of State. Olowoporoku went to see these political friends who reasoned with him that Ekiti State needed to be created. Though their support may be rooted in their interest to have political inroad into the South West. All the same, they gave their support for the creation of Ekiti State. They promised to pave the way to the heart of General Sanni Abacha, which they did.
No doubt, there was high tension in the country and the advice which Chief Olowoporoku’s colleagues gave him was that, Ekiti ‘should be ready to play ball’, that ‘if some people from Yorubaland were seeking for the assistance of the Federal Government, they should not at the same time be moving against the Federal Government, they should be able to speak openly in support of the Federal Government so as to douse tension in the country. They, also said the traditional leaders should be ready to visit General Sanni Abacha and pledge their loyalty and support to the Federal Military Government, headed by him.
Though it was difficult to pledge loyalty to a person who deprived Yoruba the opportunity to lead the country, nevertheless, Dr. Olowoporoku, in the series of meetings he held with Adamu Ciroma in his Abuja residence , where planning and strategies were formulated for future political movement, did assure Ciroma that the Ekiti Obas and leaders would sacrifice anything for the creation of Ekiti State. In one of such meetings, Adamu Ciroma brought up the issue of Ekiti’s agitation for State creation before Chief Olusola Saraki (who was though not in Government but was a member of the inner caucus and very powerful leader outside Government) . Oloye Saraki was the right person to do the job, even better than those serving under the Government. He promised there and then to link up the Ekiti Obas with General Abacha. Dr Olowoporoku promised to bring the Obas to Ciroma in Abuja which he did. Chief Saraki also fulfilled his promise by arranging the meeting between Ekiti Obas and leaders with General Sanni Abacha, the Head of State.
THE CREATION OF EKITI STATE COULD THEREFORE BE SAID TO BE HIGHLY POLITICAL; ABACHA CREATED IT TO DOUSE TENSION OF JUNE 12 BURNING FIRE IN YORUBA LAND.
On seeing the strong delegation from Ekiti, General Abacha was elated and he promised there and then to create Ekiti State, even if it would be the only State he would create. Nevertheless, five other States were created along with Ekiti State. All of these other 5 States benefited from the efforts of Ekiti people.
Those in the delegation of that historic journey to General Sanni Abacha include: Kabiyesis Ewi of Ado (Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111), Ajero of Ijero (Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole), Alaaye of Efon (Oba Dr Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare Adegunsoye 11), Owaooye of Okemesi (Oba Adedoja Gbadebo), Alawe of Ilawe (Oba Joseph Adeyemi Ademileka 11), Obanla of Ijesa Isu (Oba Gabriel Oso Adeniyi Ojikutu 11), Arinjale of Ise (Oba Samuel Adebomi), Ologotun of Ogotun (Oba S.O. Oyebade), Elemure of Emure (Oba Bamidele Oshin), Oniropora of Iropora (Oba F.A. Adetiloye) and Onigogo of Igogo. Leaders on the deligation include Chief Dr Bode Olowoporoku, Chief Ojo Falegan, Chief Jonny Ajayi, Chief Oladeji Fasuan, Prince J Adefajo, Dr Dare Teniola, Dr Kunle Olajide, Chief Ayo Omodara and Alhaji Shehu Ajijola . Chief Ayo Ogunlade and Dr Ibukun Ogundipe, who were members of the Constitutional Conference, also joined the delegation.
The composition of the delegation speaks for itself. They were made up of those who, from the beginning, believed in the creation of Ekiti State. A lot of resources went into this struggle and Chief Dr Bode Olowoporoku, being financially blessed, always came to the rescue in terms of logistics like transportation, hotel accommodation and many other expenses.
The visit to General Sanni Abacha attracted serious media attention. All media, both prints and electronics continued to beam the story of the visit of the Ekiti Obas and leaders with their photographs on front pages of national newspapers and monthly magazines as a big national event. As expected, unprecedented antagonism arose against Ekiti Obas, leaders and people on any state creation plan by the Federal Military Government, from many quarters, including the Word Bank, IMF, and Nigerians in the diaspora, the June 12 advocates, and economic experts and so on and so forth.
Dr. Bode Olowoporoku then, in his response without minding whose ox is gored, made damning press releases in support of creation of Ekiti State, which were published in the national dailies, some of which are:
**JUNE 12 OVERTAKEN BY EVENT… see AM News of January 1, 1996
**EKITI WILL NO LONGER FIGHT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT….see Vanguard Newspaper of Feb. 28, 1996
**TO US EKITI STATE IS GREATER THAN JUNE 12, AND
**THE POLITICS AND ECONOMICS OF THE CREATION OF EKITI STATE, dated 12 August, 1996 which were published in paid adverts in the Guardian Newspaper of 18 August, 1996.
The content of the Guardian newspaper advert were also produced in pamphlets, in several thousands of copies and distributed to strategic people and places, including Military barracks and all Military formations in the country in order to drown all negative advocacies against additional state creation.
By the time the Mbanefo panel came to Akure for fact finding on Ekiti State, the Ekiti Obas and leaders already knew it was for mere formality, since Abacha had already made it known to them that Ekiti State would be created. That notwithstanding, Aare Afe Babalola, who lead a team of lawyers made strong case for Ekiti State creation in his address to the panel. Interestingly, at this stage, the Non-Ekiti people were already tired of Ekiti ‘WAHALA’ and they have no objection at the Nbanefo panel to the creation of Ekiti State.
On October 1, 1996, the long years of the prayers of Ekiti Obas, intellectuals and ordinary people were answered, when Ekiti and 5 other States were created, one from each of the 6 geopolitical zones of the country. They were: EKITI, EBOYIN, ZAMFARA, GOMBE, and NASARAWA AND BAYELSA.
EKITI STATE GOVERNMENT AND IT’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE HEROS OF EKITI STATE CREATION
Many of the heroes of the creation of Ekiti State have died unsung, including some of the prominent Obas like Owaooye of Okemesi,, Elemure of Emure , Ogoga of Ikere and Alawe of Ilawe. Only the towns of these Obas remembered and celebrated them for their contributions to creation of Ekiti Sate. No recognition of any kind came from the governments of Ekiti State. Similarly, Chief Jonny Ajayi, the Chairman of Ekiti Forum and Vice Chairman of Committee for the creation of Ekiti State, Prince J Adefajo, Alhaji Shehu Ajijola, the Baasaya of Ado, who was Chairman of Ekiti Grand Alliance, have all died but no remembrance of any of them at all by all the various State Governments.
Of all the politicians who played prominent roles and who made enormous sacrifices in the struggle, only negligible number have hitherto been remembered and compensated. In most cases, we have strangers to the struggle and egocentric individuals at the helm of government businesses, so they care less about those who made sacrifices for Ekiti State to be.
One continues to wonder why Chief Akin Omoboriowo who started the struggle has never been remembered for anything ; how Senator Chief Bode Olowoporoku who spent huge amount of money, used all of his political connections and took all of the terrible risks to assist in the struggle could be so easily forgotten. Edifices have been named after some prominent Ekiti people by governments of Ekiti State, but these leaders who did all within their powers to have the State created have not been recognized. This is very unfair; their names should suffer no such neglect and gross abandonment in the history, institutions and streets of Ekiti State.
Perhaps the only person being mentioned as Mr Ekiti Creator is Chief Deji Fasuan. I agree that chief Fasuan was part of the struggle right from Ondo State when he was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry where Dr. Bode Olowoporoku was Commissioner and he joined Chief Omoboriowo and Dr. Olowoporoku to decamp to NPN. He was also the Ondo State coordinator for Adamu Ciroma’s Presidential ambition when Dr Olowoporoku was coordinating South West for Ciroma. He was in the NRC with Chief Olowoporoku too. Every move made and most money spent by Chief Dr Olowoporoku regarding the struggle was known to Chief Fasuan and Chief Ojo Falegan. They were partners in progress in the struggle. One then wonders why Chief Fasuan ascribes the credit of the struggle to himself alone as against Chief Akin Omoboriowo who started it and Chief Bode Olowoporoku who led the struggle all through with his money and connections, to the logical, memorable, final, and successful conclusion?
I wonder how Chief Fasuan could be confortable anytime his name is being mentioned alone, as the creator of Ekiti State, when he can still recall his other compatriots and their contributions in the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State, which today is the joy of the sons and daughters of all Ekiti?
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Consequences from the above, it is clear that Ekiti is blessed with human resources that can stand up, work for and defend Ekiti any time, any day.
2) It is clear that it is different opinions and ideas that can successfully build a society, omode gbon, agba gbon, ni afi da ile Ife. Different political alignments matter for progress in life, in that when certain circumstances do not allow one group to operate, the other group could do. A ko gbudo sun ki a ko’ri si ibikan. This in itself is the beauty of politics and democracy, and it played out in the struggle.
3) Let whoever finds himself in the government of Ekiti, particularly as Governor be mindful of the fact that if there is no Ekiti State, he or she would not have a state to govern, hence the heroes of the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State deserve to be remembered, recognized, honored and celebrated.
4) Edifices should be named after Chief Akin Omoboriowo and Senator Chief Bode Olowoporoku. As a matter of fact, including the Obas and leaders who suffered disrespect, dishonor and ridicules in the service of their people.
5) The blueprint for the development of Ekiti State which was developed during the struggle should be looked into as a common Manifesto and implemented to solve the problems of economic stagnation of the state. It is sad and abhorred that 24 years after the creation of Ekiti State, there is no portable water anywhere, whereas pipe bore water was in Ado Ekiti at Independence in 1960. It is a shame. Part of the items in the blueprint is that within 10 years of creating the state, all roads should have been tarred such that there would be no congestion in Ado Ekiti in that the farthest towns to Ado (Omuo, Otun and Efon) would take only about one hour drive to the state capital. So, people can come to work and transact their businesses in Ado and return to their various towns. The only exception to the neglect of the blueprint was the efforts made between 2008 and 2010 by Governor Segun Oni but abandoned by subsequent government.
6) The nomenclature tagged ‘progressive’ or ‘conservative’ divisions, which we have hitherto applied wrongly, should stop. Ekiti State is the ONLY monolithic state in the whole Nigerian Federation. We don’t need any selfish ideological divide. The time has come when we should be looking at progressive individuals through the work of their hands, rather than looking at political parties with labels. We should now look at progressive-minded individuals and support such persons to lead Ekiti. We should beware of opportunistic, insensitive and nepostic individuals claiming to be Awoist by wearing Awolowo’s cap which does not make any person progressive. They are far away from Awolowo’s ideas of developmental politics which would always benefit the people. Otherwise, Ekiti State should not remain one of the poorest in Nigeria. No more labels.
7) In everything we are doing, we must always appreciate the roles our traditional rulers and notable leaders played in the struggle that gave us Ekiti State, for without them such opportunity would have eluded us.
8)There should be meaningful changes in our political, social, governance and educational pursuits . Our youth need to be self-employed and desist from the culture of get-rich-quick syndrome
9) Ekiti should be strategic and flexible enough to always accept PLAN ‘B’ STANCE in our political and social development. This is because human beings see things from different angles depending on information and interactions available, the prism upon which one perceives issues and the ability to decipher coded signers.
In years gone by, Ekiti was seen by outsiders as one BIG town because of the brotherly love, affinity and common humanity we shared. Unfortunately, we have allowed unnecessary politicization to divide us. More unfortunately, is the attitudes of some of our governors who have joined in the balkanization of Ekiti for their selfish political ends. Further unfortunately, these self-inflicted divisions are the very antithesis to industrialization, infrastructural and human capital growth and development. After 24 solid years, this is not where Ekiti State and people should be. Ekiti people are earnestly calling, crying and craving for a meaningful CHANGE.
10) Finally , the position of God Almighty in the struggle should not be forgotten.Our Spiritual leaders should always be ready to guide our leaders, especially those who find themselves in position of responsibility as political leaders. They should be told to make God a priority in all of their dealings with the resources of the State so that dividend of democracy will trickle down to all and sundry. Without God all those efforts to have the State created would have ended in futility.
God Bless Ekiti State