Monarch Leads Protest Against Relocation Of Federal College, Orders Closure Of Markets

By Ayodele Oni

Ownership of a proposed Federal College of Education in Ekiti state has again ignited fresh war as another community claimed ownership.

The Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanjo Alabi, had, on Friday, lauded the Federal Government for locating the institution in his community.

However, another Monarch, the Olomuo of Omuo- Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin has  ordered closure of  markets, shops and other businesses in protest against  alleged relocation of the Federal College of Education from Omuo Ekiti to another community, Ilawe Ekiti.

The angry Monarch declared that businesses must not open in the town, as a mark of protests for the alleged injustice brought on the community.

Oba 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. “

Another  leader in the community,  Chief Segun Akanle, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji to come to the rescue of Omuo Ekiti by returning the Federal College of Education back to the town.

Akanle who described the citizens of the community as law abiding, noted that, Omuo Ekiti has been working for the establishment of the FCE for over ten years, adding that, a bill establishing the institution has 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 protesters including youths, women and traditional rulers from Omuo Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti East Local Government, trooped to the streets as early as 9 am, to protest alleged injustice meted to them by relocating the FCE meant for the town to another community.

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 belong to Omuo Ekiti, among others.