Ekiti E Ronu- Remember the Ido-Ekiti Peace Declaration of 1983
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Posted by Niran Olatona on April 10, 2009 at 03:28:59:
In ora o Ekiti kete.
I was still in the secondary school when the gate of hell was let loose in the then Ondo State (wherefrom Ekiti state was carved out); following the declaration that National Party of Nigeria (NPN) won the gubernatorial election as against the belief of the people that it was won by the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). That was in August 1983. Chieftains of NPN had to run into hibernation for their dear lives. Many were not so lucky. They were actually killed by their kinsmen who felt cheated. The land of Ekiti was seriously affected. Properties worth several millions of Naira were destroyed. Businesses were paralysed. The scars of the arsons and killings are still with us.
Not long after then, the Ekiti Diocese of the Anglican Communion had their synod at Ido-Ekiti. Students of history would know the roles played by Ido-Ekiti (sometimes called Ido Faboro) in the Ekiti Parapo war. I personally therefore took the declaration at Ido by this dominant religious group as very significant. The synod's major communiqué was the Ido Declaration. The summary of the declaration is a kind of vow that every Ekiti son and daughter would do all to prevent violence, arson and killing of one another. I remember reading the declaration printed and hung in homes in Ekiti even several years later.
What we claim as Ekiti people is that we are principled. Where are the elders in the land? Can't we remember that we vowed not to kill, maim or destroy one anothers' property again? May God increase the strength of Rtd. Archbishop Adetiloye, you was the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese then. Do we not have some people to lift up the hands of Moses? Ekiti professors of history, where are you? This is the time to remind our people that PEACE is better than war!
To the politicians in the land, mine is just an appeal. I have relatives and close associates that are in the 2 main political parties in the state i.e. the PDP and AC. Let us remember that when we filled our lands with violence in 1983, nothing of such was heard from in Ikenne not to talk of the whole Ogun state where Chief Obafemi Awolowo hailed from when Shehu Shagari was declared winner of the presidential election. Were there not NPN adherents in the village? Was M.K.O. Abiola (also from Ogun State) not one of the major pillars of NPN then? Did he lose a dime? Not at all. Who lost the most in 1983 election? The current Ekiti and Ondo states. A man that cannot control his temper is weak indeed!
The drum of war is sounding louder each day as April 25, 2009 approaches. Bill boards readings are threatening with the slogan, "Rig and Roast". The PDP lead government is insisting on bringing soldiers to Ekiti "to quench the fire". Let someone that knows the truth about Ekiti people and their principles ring it in Mr President's ears that if care is not taken, Ekiti would boil beyond what he can handle. The AC in the land are already saying that the PDP is behind the Federal Government's insistence on using military forces as this is a supposed hidden agenda to intimidate people and then provide opportunity to rig the election in PDP's favour. If you know you are suspected to be a thief, is it wise for you to be playing with a goat that is not yours? How wise is it to rig if popular opinion is highly against you? To me, it is like sending a soldier to the den of several lions with a gun with the aim of calming the storms in the den. As human beings have not been equipped to settle quarrels of lions, so I do not know how soldiers would be the peace solution in Ekiti land on April 25 and thereafter!
Yes there is power in the gun. We should realise nonetheless that nothing good comes from any gun! Now tell me, after the election, for how long will the soldiers be in the land? How many soldiers will cover all the cities and villages of Ekiti? I hope the soldiers know that Ekiti towns and villages may be reached not only by the roads known to common men. If the president wants peace in the land, he should be careful of whatever decision he takes.
Once you bring soldiers around for the election and PDP is declared the winner of the rerun election, Mr President, please make adequate preparation to ensure that the soldiers, so being misused, will remain in Ekiti till the expiration of the tenure of the PDP governor. Then, let Oni and his men also remain inside their armour all through. The disadvantage of course is that a man that has his armour on all day cannot run a race like the man whose protection comes from above and is free from all encumbrances! Ekiti, think!
I do not know how principled the Acting Governor is. One cannot speak for a Politician in Nigeria unless you know him very well considering the ease with which even serving governors cross carpets to parties other than the ones on whose platform they were elected. I however expect Mr Acting Governor to be bold enough to let the president and his vice know that they have already done the best they could for PDP by leaving their primary duties as the president and vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and coming to oil-less state of Ekiti! I do not know how many times he visited Ekiti to commission any project since he assumed office. Many of us will forever remember Fayose for bringing former president Obasanjo for commissioning projects and not for electoral campaigns.
On the AC part, I see no wisdom in roasting fellow brothers. If anyone is nabbed by law enforcement agents, such a person would be proclaimed as a murderer and he will face the consequences. The world has moved beyond jungle justice. What I expect the AC to do is to put in machineries to ensure the elections are not rigged. It is a time that men of valour, men of honour are needed. It is these ones that would prove beyond reasonable doubt cases of rigging if any.
Ekiti, THINK. To think our enemies are people that in the other party is folly. We have common enemies. Whoever would steal the money meant for your welfare for personal use is your enemy. Whoever loves power and does not have the power of love for the people is the enemy of the people. Your enemies are in all the political parties. You are also an enemy of the people if you are involved or plan to be involved in the looting of the meagre treasury of Ekiti people.
Regardless of your current position, do not forget, an Ekiti man that lacks integrity will not enjoy his loot for long.
Let the king in the land keep off politics. Preachers in the land, keep off politics. Let all of us pray for peace in the land. May I suggest that Ekiti people now should join voices daily, singing the modified second stanza of the National Anthem. O God of creation,
Direct our noble cause;
Guide thou our Leaders right:
Help our Youth the truth to know,
In love and honesty to grow,
And living just and true,
Great lofty heights attain,
To build EKITI where peace and justice reign
Niran Olatona is from Okemesi Ekiti and is a Lagos based Chartered Accountant.
Follow Ups:
Re: Ekiti E Ronu- Remember the Ido-Ekiti Peace Declaration of 1983
Posted by Ranto Lat on April 11, 2009 at 03:53:16:
In Reply to: Ekiti E Ronu- Remember the Ido-Ekiti Peace Declaration of 1983 posted by
Niran Olatona on April 10, 2009 at 03:28:59:
I hope our leaders would read a piece like this.
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