Seven communities in Ekiti have gathered to redress the alleged injustice done to them.

The indigenes of these communities are aggrieved over the location of the headquarters of the newly created Ikole-West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti,

Led by their respective traditional rulers, they converged at the ancestral Oreniwa Market Square in Isaba-Ekiti on Sunday.

They observed Christian, Muslim and traditionalist prayers, urging God to intervene and touch the hearts of those officials involved in the location of the council’s headquarters in “an unacceptable place.”

On behalf of other traditional rulers, the Olotunja of Ootunja-Ekiti, Adedeji Fagbamila, said the seven communities had resolved that their indigenes would not accept political appointments at the LCDA.

“We have also all resolved not to participate in any election, henceforth we will stop paying our taxes until our rights are restored. Any of our indigenes that accept any political appointment will be disowned.

“We are engaging in a rightful agitation because it is our future that is at stake and our inalienable right to self-determination.

“I want to assure you all that our amiable governor, Kayode Fayemi, has no hand in this purported location of the council secretariat at Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti.

“We are sure that he will right the wrong,” the traditional ruler said.

He appealed to the state government to relocate the headquarters to Usin-Ekiti, where the seven communities had initially agreed that it should be sited.

The seven traditional rulers had, on September 8, led their subjects to stage a peaceful protest, expressing dissatisfaction on the location of the headquarters in Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti.

They appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to relocate the council headquarters from Ijesa-Isu to Usin-Ekiti in the interest of peaceful coexistence.

“We want to assure you that this is an error that cannot see the light of the day,” the traditional ruler said, thanking the protesters for their peaceful conduct.

Addressing the gathering, the spokesperson for the seven communities, Lanre Ayejuyo, said the communities have been agitating for equity, which the governor denied them.

Mr Ayejuyo said that the communities remain resolute in their agitations that Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti, which is 12 kilometres away from other communities can not be the headquarters of the LCDA.

Another indigene of the community and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ben Oguntuase, said that making a lone community to head seven others that were linear geographically with the same culture and traditions was not the best decision.

However, Mr Oguntuase said that the communities would continue to make their grievances known per the law until their demands were met.

Reacting, the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Wale Fapohunda, urged the aggrieved communities to tread the path of peace and allow the issue to be resolved amicably.

“We are all aware of the workload on Mr Governor. He has been busy with the development and how to make the state better.

“He will find time to meet with them, but I appeal to them to kindly exercise a little more patience.

“The secretariat of the committee has advised that the issue is being considered along with several others.

“Once Mr Governor has the chance, he will meet with them to ensure that all grey areas are addressed,” Mr Fapohunda assured.