Community Rejects Headquarters of Newly-Created Ekiti South East LCDA

Less than 24 hours after the passage of the bill creating 19 new local council development areas (LCDAs) by the Ekiti State House of Assembly, one of the affected communities, Ilasa-Ekiti, has rejected the exercise.

The community, which rejected the siting of the headquarters of the new LCDAs, said that undue political manipulation and chicanery were allowed to prevail over objectivity, commonsense, and rationality in the creation of the LCDA.

The community, under the auspices of Ilasa Development Union (IDU), in a letter dated August 5, 2021 to Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said there was nothing to cheer in the creation of Ekiti South East LCDA.

In the letter addressed to Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and signed by IDU National President, Barrister Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, and ​​National Secretary, Mr. Bode Thomas, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, the community noted that Ilasa-Ekiti ought to have been named as the headquarters of the newly created Ekiti South East LCDA “rather than given an amorphous and non-existent name as the headquarters of the LCDA. For us, this is politics taken too far!”

The community also expressed misgiving that the so-called Ekiti South East LCDA is unnecessarily congested, while the old Ekiti East Local Council is now left with Omuo-Ekiti town alone (since Isinbode Ekiti has joined Ayekire LCDA where it rightfully belongs) and Ekiti South East LCDA is parading nine independent communities as members.

The Full Letter:

5th August, 2021

The Governor of Ekiti State,
Governor’s Office,
Ado Ekiti,
Ekiti State.

Dear sir,

THERE IS NOTHING TO CHEER IN THE CREATION OF EKITI SOUTH EAST LCDA

The leadership of Ilasa Development Union (IDU), has taken notice of the passage of Local Government Bill, 2021 by the Ekiti State House of Assembly which culminated into the creation of 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from the existing 16 Local Government Areas.

As laudable as the idea behind the creation of the new LCDAs are, the creation of Ekiti South East LCDA is nothing to cheer about. This is because undue political manipulation and chicanery were allowed to prevail over objectivity, common sense and rationality in the creation of the LCDA.

Among the component member communities of the LCDA, it is not in doubt that Ilasa Ekiti ranks far and above others. Apart from it is long existential history, its Oba is the only monarch in the LCDA in grade ‘A’ status while others are in the grade ‘C’ classification. This is in addition to the fact that Ilasa Ekiti has played leadership/headship role to a segment of the component towns in the LCDA for decades (Ekamefa community).

It therefore behoves that Ilasa–Ekiti ought to have been named as the headquarters of the newly created Ekiti South East LCDA rather than given an amorphous and non–existence name as the headquarters of the LCDA. For us, this is politics taken too far!

Even when we are aware that the committee on the viability of the LCDAs clearly recommended the headquarter of Ekiti South East LCDA to be at Ilasa Ekiti; we gathered that the recommendation was truncated by the powers that be as a way of favouring the interests of “certain powerful and influencial politicians” from some of the other component towns.

The implication of the naming of Ekiti South East LCDA headquarter as Isokan is that the secretariat of the LCDA can be situated at any part of the LCDA. This is most unacceptable and condemnable.

Equally worrisome is the fact that the so called Ekiti South East Local Council Development Area is unnecessarily congested. While the old Ekiti East Local Government is now left with Omuo Ekiti town alone (since Isinbode Ekiti has joined Ayekire LCDA where it rightfully belong), Ekiti South East LCDA is parading nine (09) independent communities as members. This is politically most unsavoury! With the new LCDA, Ilasa Ekiti may witness political demotion with regards to political wards.

It is on the totality of the above reasonings that we hereby declare that there is nothing cheering in the purported creation of the LCDA.

As the umbrella union of all sons and daughters of Ilasa Ekiti, we condemn the naming of Ekiti South East Local Council Development Area as “Isokan”, an amorphous and non–existence place, instead of Ilasa Ekiti where it rightly belongs.

We call on the Government of Ekiti State to ensure necessary amendment to this monumental anomaly even as we warn that no attempt should be made at taking the headquarter of Ekiti South East LCDA to any other place other than Ilasa Ekiti.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
PP: Ilasa Development Union

Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, Esq. ​​Adebayo, Bode Thomas
National President​​​​​ National Secretary