Kwara Ekiti Youth Development Forum, KEYDF, has called on the Kwara State governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq to quickly order the deployment of troops to Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas in the face of the recent escalation in cases of kidnapping by criminal elements distorting the peace in the communities within the areas.
The forum in a communique released after it’s meeting held at the Oke-Ero Local Government Council Hall and signed by its chairman, Mr. Ayobami Erinle, demanded for a more proactive response from the state government towards complementing the effort of the local vigilantes, which have been at the forefront of taming the ravaging criminals, who go about attacking and kidnapping the residents, while also rustling cattle.
They therefore, demand for the immediate withdrawal of the Miyetti-Allah Vigilantes. They alleged the insecurity situation in the two council areas have only got escalated with the deployment of the Miyetti-Allah Vigilantes, claiming that some of the suspects who invaded Eruku Community to rustle cattle were allegedly seen wearing the Miyetti-Allah Vigilantes’ uniform. “we are calling on our listening governor, to rather empower the local vigilantes and hunters, who know the locality and the terrains more, rather than the Miyetti-Allah Vigilantes’ who are of same tribe with our attackers”, the communique added.
The youth group, however, commended the effort of the state governor, to have secured the approval of the Nigerian Army to extend Operation Fansan Yamma to Kwara State. It therefore call for a quick deployment of the troops to Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government area, which is one of the worst hit local government areas, as the presence of the military men in the communities will give the people a reassurance of protection.
The youth group, in the released communique, call on all sons and daughters of Kwara-Ekiti, to unite together in one accord so as to be able to present common ground on major matters, as unity of ideas and purposes is the only impetus needed if their views and position on major issues was to be respected by others and to fast track the development of the two local government areas.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the group also call on major political parties with presence in Kwara State to zone the ticket for Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency seat to the Ekiti Bloc in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice..
According to KEYDF,, “the demand is based on the principle of equity, fairness, and justice, as the seat has been occupied by members of the Igbomina bloc since 1999.
KEYDF cited the list of past and present occupiers of the federal constituency seat, which has excluded Ekiti Bloc since the advent of the present 4th Republic, to include:
– Bashir Bola Oni (1999-2003) from Irepodun Local Government Area (Igbomina bloc)
– Makanjuola Gbenga Peter (2003-2011) from Irepodun Local Government Area (Igbomina bloc)
– Aiyedun Olayinka Akeem (2011-2015) from Isin Local Government Area (Igbomina bloc)
– Olufunke Adedoyin (2015-2018) from Irepodun Local Government Area (Igbomina bloc)
– Abdulraheem Olatunji Olawuyi (2018-to date) from Irepodun Local Government Area (Igbomina bloc)
Given this history, KEYDF believes it is only fair that the next occupier of the seat comes from the Ekiti bloc, which comprises Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas. The group therefore urged all major political parties with presence in the state to consider the need for equity, justice and fairness, to zone the ticket of the Federal House of Representative seat for Federal Constituency to the Ekiti Bloc.
In a separate but related matter, KEYDF expressed appreciation to the Governor of Kwara State for his infrastructure intervention in Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas. However, the group demanded more attention to infrastructural and human capital development in the areas, likening their plea to Oliver Twist’s request for more.
KEYDF also appealed to the governor to intensify efforts towards taming the cases of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the locality and surrounding areas.
The communique ended with a call on all citizens of Kwara-Ekiti, to unite together to pursue common goals for acceleration of development in the two local government areas.
