The people of Oye Local Government Area recently received the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Professor Chinedu Nebo, when he visited the take-off site of the institution. Assistant Editor, Sam Nwaoko, reports the elaborate reception.PEOPLE of the various towns that make up Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State trooped out as those out to welcome a warrior after a conquest. They had defied the nearly debilitating rain. The energetic youth chanted in unfettered revelry with their gongs, while the elderly, male and female alike also sang around the arena in praise of God, their community and their sons, Femi Ajayi and Ayo Arise.The occasion was the first visit of the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Professor Chinedu Nebo, to the university's host community as well as the proposed temporary site of its take-off. The event, according to the people of Oye-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was 'a prayer answered by God who had been our hope in the build-up to the occasion of this visit of Professor Nebo,' a leader in the community, Dr Jimi Oke, said.Since the announcement by the Federal Government in October last year that it would establish new universities in states where there were currently no federal universities, there had been tension in Ekiti State over where the one meant for the state would be located. The matter had distilled to Oye/Ikole controversy, seemingly pitching the two communities against each other over which would be the host of the university. The issue even went ugly in April this year, in the build-up to the general election, when some people were killed during a violent protest in Ikole over the rumours on the location of the university.But the visit of Professor Nebo to Oye on Friday, September 9, 2011 effectively brought the rumours and anxiety over the location of the university to an end. The Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had earlier, also announced at the coronation of the Elekole of Ikole and the paramount ruler of Egbeoba kingdom, Oba Adewumi Fashiku, on September 3, that the controversy over the location of the university had been amicably resolved. Governor Fayemi, on that occasion, pointed out that the Federal University would have campuses in Oye and Ikole, saying he was of the belief that the solution meant that there was no victor and no vanquished in the matter for the two communities.Following the development, the people of Oye Local Government Area, led by their monarchs and other leaders trooped out to welcome the university and its principal staff to the home of the institution. All the traditional rulers in the council area were led to the ceremony by the Chairman of Oye Local Government Area Traditional Council and the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ajiboye. Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Oye Local Government Area, Mr Adewale Adekoya, was represented at the reception by the council's Head of Administration, Mr Akin Aribisala.Also among the revelling indigenes of council area at the reception were elder statesmen and former Minister of National Planning, Chief Ayo Ogunlade; Professor D.O. Olagoke, Chief Ayo Omodara and many other prominent sons and daughters of the council area. However, the old and young, who sang in camaraderie and joyful conviviality around the arena, singled out Mr. Femi Ajayi and Senator Ayo Arise for praise and prayers. The people believe that after the Almighty God, the quest to make the dream of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti a reality was the making of Arise and Ajayi.Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the reception, Dr Oke, described the day as 'a day of glory,' adding: 'I feel so elated that I can't describe it, I am short of being hysterical. I feel on top of the world.' Oke pointed out that Professor Nebo had wanted to visit the community long before that day and submitted that 'if all my hair could turn to hands in praising God, I feel like doing that. That may sound awkward, but that is how grateful to God I feel for Oye Local Government Area and for Ekiti State.'National President of Oye Progressive Union (OPU), Mr Tope Ibigbami, in his address did not lose sight of the fact that the people must work hard to meet the minimum requirements for the university's effective take-off. Ibigbami hinted that this year's Ajodun Omo Oye would be tailored towards achieving some of such goals, charging sons and daughters of the community to brace up for the challenges.The Onisan, Oba Ajiboye, who spoke on behalf of the monarchs of Oye council area, said the people 'heartily welcome Professor Nebo for agreeing to be one of us.' He also congratulated the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju, noting that the people of Oye would always remember him for good.Oba Ajiboye also thanked and eulogised Ajayi and Arise, 'and their lieutenants', saying 'they sacrificed everything to ensure that the university becomes a reality in Oye Local Government Area.' He also expressed the gratitude of the Oye LGA Traditional Council to God for making the day a reality, adding that the people were happy that the university came to their local government.The monarch told Professor Nebo that the council area comprised of 15 towns, saying 'and we are ready to take you as our son and we are ready to take care of you.' He urged the vice chancellor to feel free to interact and share experiences with the many eggheads that abound in both the local government and in Ekiti State for best results.'We have heard of the good things you did in University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). We want you to do more for us here. When you do that, the Oye Local Government traditional council will confer on you the title of Akorewolu of Oye,' Oba Ajiboye stated.Professor Nebo, while responding expressed surprise at the height of warm and elaborate welcome the people of Oye offered him and his team. He said he had thought of just coming to town, see what was on the ground, 'map out strategies with the relevant stakeholders and see how we can move on from there. But the Oye people made it such a nationally organised ceremony, we were not expecting such a big reception that we got here. I am so shy about all that has happened.' His announcement that 'the university is The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti' drew extended, roaring applause from the people. 'But it will have two campuses. The main campus will be at Oye and the other campus will be at Ikole. And I believe that is a good way of resolving the crisis,' he announced further.According to him, so many sons and daughters of Oye 'had worked very hard from the day of the announcement (of the establishment of a federal university) and even before and I congratulate them. People stuck their neck out to ensure that this university is a reality. The people who have encouraged me the most are distinguished Senator Ayo Arise and Mr. Femi Ajayi. There have been others who have called me on a daily basis; Dr. Oke is one of them. He decided that this man will not rest until he sets his foot here. So, Dr. Jimi Oke, here I come.'I want to congratulate this community for going ahead to prepare this ground. It shows that you have gone a long way to show that you really hungered and thirsted for a university and God has given you one.'He noted that what was on ground at Oye was inadequate for the take-off of the university and charged the people to 'call your sons and daughters all over the world because we need more structures here.' He appealed to the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to approve the use of the initial intended take-off site of the institution. 'The facilities on ground at Oye are not adequate right now, we will try to see what we can do before January. It would be wonderful if our beloved Governor Fayemi would be kind and gracious enough to give us the originally intended site here in Oye where there is Unity School. That site will make it much easier to start. That way, we start the two campuses together. I believe that the governor himself will be happy with that.'The former Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka expressed the hope that Governor Fayemi would grant the request, saying 'we are hoping that we can get that facility.' He however noted that 'if we don't, then it means that we might take off a little later than that. But my prayer and hope is come January 2012, the students would be on ground.' He noted that with adequate cooperation from the people, he would build the enviable university the people craved.The men at the centre of it all, Arise and Ajayi, only expressed gratitude to God. In separate reactions, Arise and Ajayi thanked the people of Ekiti State, saying that Ekiti people would be the overall beneficiary of the gesture of the Federal Government and called for the continued support and cooperation of the people of the state.
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