Vehicular movement and other activities were yesterday grounded in Ilasa Ekiti as travellers to Lagos, Abuja and Kwara were stranded following protest by residents, over relocation of Ekiti South East Local Council Development Authority (LCDA).
As early as 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, protesting members of the community, barricaded the major road leading to Kogi State.
Efforts by a detachment of police led by the Divisional Police Officer of the area to restore normalcy were rebuffed by angry protesters, who insisted on showing their displeasure at the relocation of the LCDA headquarters.
Some of the protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We say no to daylight robbery, Ilasa Ekiti must be headquarters of Ekiti South East LCDA, no more no less”, “it is evil and inhuman to change the headquarters of the LCDA”, “Changing the headquarters of the LCDA to Isaya Ekiti, height of insensitivity,” amidst chanting of solidarity songs.
One of the leaders of the community and retired civil servant, Mr. Olowookere Akin, explained that Ilasa was the headquarters of the LCDA in 2014 before it was suspended by the Ayodele Fayose- led administration.
He said: “ Ilasa remained the headquarters of the new LCDA until some powerful forces from the other community tinkered with it.
“I doubt if Governor Fayemi is aware of the tinkering and this is why we felt we should show our displeasure through this protest.
“Since we can’t have access to him privately, then he will hear our cry through this medium. He must therefore right the wrong by reversing it. If we can’t have the headquarters of the LCDA, then no one will have it.”
Also, National President, Ilasa Development Union, Mr. Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, said Ilasa had been the natural headquarters of the entire communities in the State Constituency two, now made up of the LCDA.
