Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, amid pumps and pageantry, at the weekend, held the coronation of Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi as the 18th Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti. The ceremony, took place at Corpus Christi College, Igbara-Odo road, Ilawe, on Saturday where the traditional ruler was presented with the Staff of office by the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.Oba Alabi, a career diplomat, who is Afuntade I, of the Oniwe Ruling House, in his acceptance speech, charged the other 16 princes, who contested the throne with him, to support him to develop the community.Oba Alabi added that he would do his best to ensure rapid development of the community, saying however, that it would be easier to achieve that with the support of all and sundry.'The task ahead is sonorous and with my experience, I will do my best to see that all the needs of the people are met. I want to focus mainly on the youth empowerment. Most of our youths are roaming about the streets without tangible means of livelihood that is why we have incidents of crimes and other vices all over the place. By the grace of God, all these would be addressed,' he said.While appreciating the people of Ilawe for accepting him as their traditional ruler, he also paid glowing tributes to past traditional rulers for the legacies he said they had bestowed on the community.The new Alawe pleaded with the Ekiti State government to complete all ongoing projects in the community, especially the Ilawe-Aramoko road which he said needed reconstruction, completion and upgrading the health centre to General Hospital, adding that only Ilawe community was left out of 16 local governments in Ekiti State that has no hospital, among other projects.The traditional ruler who concluded his acceptance speech with the pronouncement of the Chief of Staff to Ekiti State governor, Mr Adeyemi Adaramodu as the Oluomo of Ilawe-Ekiti with immediate effect, said he acknowledged the noble role he has been playing in making Ilawe a role model among other communities in the state. Oba Alabi last served in the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa before he was selected as the 18th Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti on October 6, 2011 by the community's kingmakers to succeed the late Oba Adeyemi Ademileka, who died on June 7, 2011 after 40 years on the throne. Governor Fayemi, while speaking at the colourful ceremony, commended Ilawe kingmakers for what he said was the peaceful selection of the new traditional ruler, pointing out that 'his selection was devoid of the usual crisis that usually trailed such in other communities.'Fayemi charged the new Oba to cooperate with his subjects for accelerated development of the community, saying 'your selection callsfor due diligence, perseverance and work with your people to accelerate the rate of development of your community.' Governor Fayemi added that 'as a custodian of the tradition and custom of the people, I implore you to bring back the moral value which has been lost to foreign culture.'The governor said his administration would 'continue to attend to the socio-economic needs of the people within the meagre resources that accrue to it,' adding that his administration was 'constructing Ilawe-Ado road, Ilawe-Igbara-Odo-Ibuji road, Ilawe-Ikere road, five-kilometre township roads, as well as completed Ilawe-Erinjiyan road to open up the area to investors.'Fayemi, who solicited cooperation and understanding from Ekiti people as his administration pursued its eight-point agenda, added that 'this effort has come to fruition as a steel rolling mill would soon be established in the community.'He said this would help in creating employment opportunities for the youths.'I like to again commend the traditional institutions in the state for their support for this administration in its onerous responsibilities of making life better for our people. I am not unaware that there are still many mountains to climb and many waters to cross. Nonetheless this administration is undaunted as it is adequately prepared to meet the challenges and achieve its mission of making poverty history in our land,' the governor said.While congratulating the new Alawe for ascending the throne of his fore-bears, the governor said the state government had no special interest in any particular candidate for the position as his administration believed in merit, transparency and due process for effective service delivery to the people.Dignitaries present at the occasion were; the deputy governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, Chief of Staff to the state governor, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, Special Adviser, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs to the governor, Chief George Akosile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, represented by the Adagba Iyanfoworogi of Ife, Oba Adebolu Fatunmise, the Chairman Caretaker Committee, Ekiti South-West Local Government Area, Mr Genge Kolawole.Others were traditional rulers within and outside Ekiti State, the professional bodies, religious leaders, diplomats, among others.
Click here to read full news..
