From WOLE BALOGUN, Ado Ekiti
A team of traditional monarchs from the three senatorial districts, Ekiti North, South and Central have urged all political parties in the state and particularly the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to ensure aspirants who would emerge as their parties’ governorship candidates in the coming primaries should come from the southern part of the state.
The monarchs, who were led by the Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, a former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, included the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adu Alagbado, Ologotun of Ogotu Ekiti, Oba Samuel Ajibade, Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba , Alarw of Are, Oba Boluwaji Adebiyi, and among others.
The monarchs made known their demands during a visit to the governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, at the Osuntokun lodge of the government house in Ado Ekiti, spoke through the Elemure, Oba Adebayo, saying: ” We want to appeal to all Ekiti people and all stakeholders in the forthcoming governorship election in July 14 to ensure that we have a peaceful and transparent election.
“We also want to urge all political parties to make sure that the aspirant who emerges from their platform is from the southern part of the state because this part has been marginalized since the creation of the state. Our concern stems from the fact that we all should be seen as allowing fairness and justice to hold sway.
“It is believed that if we all have that concern and interest, we should have a governor from the south as that would show fairness to all parties and also make us have same development with other states in the south west. When the south is not considered this time around, it would amount to marginalisation.
” We therefore appeal to all monarchs that we should choose and support a candidate that would continue the current works by the incumbent governor. Whichever party produces a southern candidate, we will support,” he said.
Oba Jaiyeola, Arajaka of Igbaraodo, said: “We are here to speak with one voice that there is a particular part of Ekiti already marginalized in producing a governor, we are now appealing to all parties that their candidate must come from the southern part.
Ologotu, said : I want to refresh the memory of the governor, on I once asked eight Obas to assist him on a choice. in Ekiti South. We have waited for too long so we want a candidate from the south, we are not particular about any candidate but we just want a candidate from our part, South. We believe in the principles of justice and faIrness and we are here to corroborate what our Obas from the south want.
“We are not partisan but when we talk of justice we come in as monarchs.
“We support our colleagues from the south based on the principle of justice and equity so Ekiti can move forward.
Owa Itapa of Itapa kingdom said, “I support my colleagues that Ekiti south should be given the chance to become the next governor in the coming election on July 14.
“We are appealing to the good people of the state especially the Obas to galvanize their people that we do not have any particular candidate, but we want Ekiti south to be given the chance to produce the next governor.”
Kabiyesi Alare said: Those from the Ekiti south senatorial district have spoken the minds of their people from that part. That part of the state has always agitated for the slot. North and central have tasted it, for us to still stay together as a state what is fair is fair, let us support justice, so we don’t get at each other .
Responding, governor Fayose said: “The first watchword is fairness and equity. The agitation of the south for governor has always been an issue which has been sustained. I narrowly escaped it in 2014 to emerge governor of the state. It is a legitimate agitation.
“I support it and also urge all Ekiti people to support this agitation. As it is coming from the traditional rulers, it becomes a stronger agitation. I also urge the traditional monarchs to go beyond telling the governor and tell Ekiti people and other stakeholders so they could know this and support them. In the PDP all our candidates for the forthcoming elections are from Ekiti south.”