MAMMOTH CROWD ENDORSES CREATION OF ESO-OBE LCDA IN EKITI AS OVER 22,000 INDIGENES SAY ‘YES’ IN REFERENDUM

Read Time:3 Minute, 27 Second

A referendum to determine the willingness of the people of Ikoro- Ekiti and the communities under it to have a separate a local government council was conducted on Saturday 13th August 2022.

At the end of the voting which took place at the palace of Olukoro of Ikoro-Ekiti, a total 22,127 inhabitants said ‘yes’ to the creation of the local council.

The exercise was carried out under the supervision of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (ESIEC) and witnessed by the LCDA Creation and Implementation Committee chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda (SAN) and other relevant state officials.

In his remarks shortly after the results of voting were announced, Mr. Fapohunda expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the election, describing the massive turn-out of the people of Ikoro and the numerous communities under it as a clear demonstration of their determination to have the LCDA.

The Attorney-General said having fulfilled all the requirements to have the local council, he would, upon the official receipt of the outcome of the voting exercise present it at the State Executive Council meeting for ratification and governor’s assent.

This he said would be carried out within the next one week.

He, therefore expressed optimism that once the State House of Assembly passed the amendment bill into law and it is signed by the Executive Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Eso-Obe LCDA would automatically derive its status from the law establishing it.

Commenting on the conduct of the referendum, Fapohunda said, “The people of Ikoro Ekiti have been longing for LCDA for a long time.

“What we are then doing today is the affirmation of the determination and the readiness by the government to make it happen”, the Justice Commissioner said.

“Constitutionally, the process of establishing LCDA requires a referendum and this is in fulfilment of the constitutional process. With the turn-out witnessed today, there is clearly a determination by the people of Ikoro-Ekiti and the surrounding communities to have LCDA and that expression has been really reflected in the turn-out. I am sure, given this number, what is now left is for the government to do the needful”, Fapohunda stressed.

He added that “the people of Ikoro-Ekiti have spoken. The wishes are already on the way of being achieved. What is left from there is for us to prepare a bill to the House of Assembly, including the result of this referendum and everything being equal, I believe the House of Assembly will approve the law and once that is done, Mr Governor is waiting to sign it into law.”

While declaring the results at the end of the voting exercise, the ESIEC Commissioner, Mr. Babatunde Akilo expressed satisfaction at the massive turn-out and the orderly manner in which the people conducted themselves.

“The turn-out is massive and very impressive. We went round to inspect the way people lined up and we are glad to say that we are very impressed. It is incredible and it shows that people really want the LCDA. It is something that is very close to their hearts”, he said.

In his remarks, the chief host and paramount ruler of Ikoro Ekiti, Oba (Dr.) Adebanji Adeleye, the Olukoro of Ikoro Ekiti thanked the Ekiti State Governor for being at the verge of fulfilling one of his promises to the people of the town, adding that this couldn’t have come as a surprise given the massive support his administration gets from the people.

According to him, the town is ready to hit the ground running once the LCDA becomes a creation of the law.

Also speaking, the House of Assembly member representing Ijero constituency, Hon. Demola Ojo commended the orderly conduct of the exercise, describing the massive turn-out as a clear manifestation of the people’s desire for the LCDA.

He said he would work with other members of the House for an easy passage of the amendment of the law for the establishment of LCDAs to give legal teeth to the creation of Eso-Obe LCDA.