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Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has warned youths in the state against using vandalization and arson as a weapon of protest.
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has warned youths in the state against using vandalization and arson as a weapon of protest. The governor read the riot act during the week at Igbara-Odo while assessing situation of things after youths went on rampage to protest the ruling of an Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin on the controversial Arajaka throne which favoured the regent of the town.
Governor Fayose who was received by a tumultuous crowd of indigenes who had earlier fled the town at the wake of the unrest, warned the youths to shelve the idea of taking laws into their hands or face the music.
"If there is a problem, all we need to do is find a solution. I want to warn that nobody should take laws into his hands. If we fight for 100 years, we shall end up at the discussion table to settle the matter. All I want in my state is peace and progress. Anyone caught fomenting trouble will surely face the wrath of the law" he declared.
Governor Fayose told the crowd made up mainly of youths that he sympathized with their plight, noting that unemployment constituted part of the problem of youth restiveness in the country. "If most of you are employed somewhere you won't be here fighting. In fact, unemployment has caused the nation so much. It is the idle hand that devil finds work for. I understand your plight."
Fayose stated that after his warning on the matter, he would put in place an intelligence network so as to identify the culprits who are fuelling crisis in the town.
According to the governor, the fact that the judgment of the Court of Appeal was against the Arajaka does not indicate the end of the matter since the Oba has not exhaust all the legal options available to him.
"If the ruling is against Kabiyesi, there is still another higher court, the Supreme Court".
so the process is not yet exhausted. So why are you people burning houses? What you have destroyed how will you bring them back? I am begging all of you to maintain peace."
He pleaded with the youths to sheathe their swords and co-operate with the government while it finds a lasting solution to the problem. "This method of burning houses will be counter-productive and will cost you too much in the long run. I want to assure you that we shall be with you in finding a solution to this problem so that we can all live in peace" he assured.
It would be recalled that a protracted legal battle had been on between Oba Edward Jayeola, the Arajaka of Igbara-Odo and the regent of the town, Princess Adeboboye Aladeyelu, in which the regent was challenging the installation of the Oba.