Youths in Ekiti State have called on the state government to immortalise, legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola, while he is still alive, by designating a particular day of every year as “Afe Babalola Day”.
They further asked that the day should declared as work-free, in honour of the elder statesman.
The youths, under the aegis of Ekiti Youths Home Based (EYHB) in a statement signed by the convener, Ademola Adedayo, said the callwas prompted by Babalola’s “unmatched contributions to the growth and development of the state.”
A former presidential adviser and Ekiti Central Senator, Babafemi Ojudu, had also canvassed the same position.
Ojudu, had said Babalola’s extraordinary life and contributions to education, law, and various sectors, made a compelling case for Ado Ekiti, nay Ekiti State, to declare an Afe Babalola Day, to appreciate him.
The EYHB statement reads, “Babalola deserved to be honoured with such a special day, considering the good name, as well as reputation he had continually brought to Ekiti in years past.
“Apart from playing prominent roles in the creation of the state in 1996, Babalola had over the years, remained the highest tax payer in the state, as well as largest single farmer, and also the largest employer of labour, after the state government.
“We are proud to note that Afe Babalola has dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity, and has been a trailblazer in promoting education, and empowering the youths in vocations and agriculture through his yearly award of millions of Naira to the best farmers in each of the local governments of Ekiti, and has brought global honour and recognition to Ekiti, Nigeria and humanity,” the statement said.
