Residents of Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti state including youths, women and traditional rulers on Saturday trooped to the streets to protest alleged relocation of the Federal College of Education meant for the town to Ilawe Ekiti headquarters of Ekiti Southwest.
The protesters, it was gathered, had as early as 9 a.m massed on and around the major roads of the ancient town to participate in the protest.
The protest which lasted for hours saw human and vehicular movements as commercial activities paralyzed in the axis.
Inscriptions on some of the placards displayed by the protesters read: “On Omuo FCE we stand! No more! No less, This injustice must be redressed Return Our FCE back to us, Don’t rub peter to pay Paul, FCE belongs to Omuo Ekiti, among others.
Travellers going to Abuja and those passing through the major highway in the town to Lagos, Ado Ekiti and neighboring Ondo State were all delayed for hours as the roads were barricaded.
Recall that the Bill seeking the establishment of the Federal College of Education Omuo Ekiti, was sponsored by the Senator Representing Ekiti South senatorial district, Senator Biodun Olujimi and was passed by both chambers of the 9th National Assembly
Pleas by the Nigerian Police, the Directorate of State Service and the other security agencies deployed to maintain law and order to prevail on the angry protesters to allow free flow of traffic, were rebuffed.
The paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Oba Noah Omonigbehin was said to have directed that all markets, shops and other businesses be shut earlier in the morning as a mark of solidarity for the alleged injustice brought on the community.
A community leader , Chief Segun Akanle who addressed the protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to come to the rescue of Omuo Ekiti by returning the Federal College of Education back to the town.
Akanle who described the indigenes of the community as law abiding, noted that, Omuo Ekiti have been working for the establishment of the FCE for over ten years, adding that, a bill establishing the institution have been passed by both the 8th and 9th National Assembly and only awaiting presidential assent.
“We have 12 communities in Ekiti East and there is no federal or state presence in any of them. A bill establishing a College of Education has been passed and waiting for president assent before Ilawe people went through the backdoor to alter the location of the school.
“Why would the government establish two federal institutions in Ilawe and leave the remaining parts of the constituency. This is not acceptable.
We have confidence in Tinubu to do the needful by righting the wrong and return the Federal College of Education to Omuo Ekiti where it rightly belongs.
Also reacting to the development, two prominent paramount rulers in Ekiti East Local Government condemned the alleged clandestine move to change the location of the school to Ilawe.
The Olomuo of Omuo Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin said he was a participant at the public hearings by the Senate leading to the establishment of the school in both 8th and 9th session.
“We presented memo to the august legislative assembly. We wonder how someone who has not asked for a thing would be given. I urge president Tinubu to correct this injustice and return the institution to Omuo Ekiti. “
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