Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
Alawe-in-Council in Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area has suspended all traditional festivals in the town till the end of the forthcoming elections in the country.
According to a statement from the palace of the Alawe, the decision was reached at the February 7 Alawe-in-Council’s meeting, which was presided over by the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi.
“This decision was taken sequel to available information that some mischievous persons were planning to use the celebration of traditional festivals to foment trouble in the community and disrupt the forthcoming elections in the town. Ilawe-Ekiti is a peace- loving town that is known for tolerance, stability, political maturity and decorum, hence, the leadership of the community will not allow disgruntled elements to surreptitiously and clandestinely take advantage of traditional festivals, to turn the town into a theatre of war and criminal activities.
“The suspension of these traditional festivals is for strict compliance; parents and guardians are expected to ensure compliance by their wards.
“This directive affects all chiefs and traditional priests without exceptions. Consequently, any violation of this directive will be met with the full weight of the law,” the Alawe-in-Council said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, attributed his re-election as governor of the state for a second term to the grace of God, saying brilliance and capacity could not have earned him the governorship seat.
Governor Fayemi, who made the disclosure during a thanksgiving mass in commemoration of his 54th birthday, at the Government House Chapel, Ado-Ekiti, thanked the people of Ekiti for standing by him and the administration.
The governor said no man can attain any lofty height except by the grace of God.
“If one adds another year in good health and in the service of God and country, it is not by might, neither is it by some exceptional ability that one is placed in this position to serve our people; it is purely and wholly by the grace of the Lord.
“I want to thank the people, its been a hectic three months plus in office, but, the grace of God is showing in almost every aspect of our lives in Ekiti State, sanity has returned, challenges have not totally gone, but, we thank God who has enabled us to go this far,” he said.
Fayemi used the opportunity to thanked the people who had been in the saddle with him since the administration started three months ago, as well as the people of the state who had shown understanding in the way God had been helping him to run the state.
Governor Fayemi took the first reading from Isaiah Chapter 6:1 to 8, while his wife, Bisi, took the second reading Corinthians. 15:1-11.
The Vicar General of Catholic Diocese, Rev. Father Felix Odesanmi, in his sermon, stressed the need for the governor to depend totally in God as he carries out the state function.
Odesanmi urged him not to listen to advice that would not benefit the majority of the people.
At the event were the Deputy Governor, Bisi Egbeyemi, House of Assembly Speaker, Adeniran Alagbada, Members of executive council, top civil servants, party faithful and well wishers.