Ekiti

Ekiti
State
Flag of Ekiti State
Flag		Seal of Ekiti State
Seal
Nickname(s): Land of Honour formerly Fountain of Knowledge

Location of Ekiti State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°40′N 5°15′E / 7.667°N 5.250°E / 7.667; 5.250Coordinates: 7°40′N 5°15′E / 7.667°N 5.250°E / 7.667; 5.250
Country  Nigeria
Date created 1 October 1996
Capital Ado Ekiti
Government
 • Governor
(List)		 Ayo Fayose (PDP)
Area
 • Total 6,353 km2 (2,453 sq mi)
Area rank 31st of 36
Population
 • Estimate (2005) 2,737,186
 • Rank 29th of 36
Demonym(s) Ekitian
GDP (PPP)
 • Year 2007
 • Total $2.85 billion[1]
 • Per capita $1,169[1]
Time zone WAT (UTC+01)
ISO 3166 code NG-EK

Ekiti is a state in western Nigeria, declared a state on October 1, 1996 alongside five others by the military under the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. The state, carved out of the territory of old Ondo State, covers the former twelve local government areas that made up the Ekiti Zone of old Ondo State. On creation, it took off with sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (LGAs), having had an additional four carved out of the old ones. Ekiti State is one of the thirty-six states (Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)) that constitute Nigeria. Ekiti State is reputed to have produced the highest number of professors in Nigeria. Several pioneers academics are from the state. Pioneers like Profs Adegoke Olubummo( One of the 1st Nigerian Professors in the field of Mathematics), Prof. Ekundayo Adeyinka Adeyemi(1st Professor of Architecture in Africa, South of Sahara). Others include renowned academics like Profs J.F. Ade-Ajayi, Niyi Osundare, Sam Aluko and others too many to mention.

Following a prolonged political crisis, President Olusegun Obasanjo imposed a military administrator (General Tunji Olurin) on Ekiti State in October 2006. On April 27, 2007 Olurin was replaced by Tope Ademiluyi. In the PDP primary of 2006, 1st-place finisher, Yinka Akerele and 2nd place Prof. Adesegun Ojo were supposed to be in a run-off to determine who would be the nominee of the Nigerian ruling party when President Obasanjo summoned them to Abuja and imposed the candidate who came third - Engineer Segun Oni. He was later elected in the 2007 election as the governor of the state in an election marred by widespread irregularities and the AC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi challenged his election and forced a rerun in May 2009.[2]

The May 2009 rerun was characterized by even worse rigging and the election was disputed again. Eventually, after three years, the election of Oni was thrown out and Dr. Kayode Fayemi was declared the duly elected governor of Ekiti State.

History

Ekiti was an independent state prior to the British conquest. It was one of the many Yoruba states in what is today Nigeria. Ekiti as a nation and districts of Yoruba race had her progeny in Oduduwa, the father and progenitor of Yoruba race. Just like every major subethnic division in Yorubaland. Ekiti has her origin from Ile-Ife (the cradle land of Yorubaland). The Olofin, one of the sons of the Oduduwa had sixteen (16) children and in the means of searching for the new land to develop, they all journeyed out of Ile-Ife as they walked through the Iwo - Eleru(crave) near Akure and had stop over at a place called Igbo-Aka(forest of termites) closer to Ile-Oluji.

The Olofin, the sixteen children and some other beloved people continued with their journey, but when they got to a particular lovely and flat land, the Owa-Obokun(the monachy of Ijesha land) and Orangun of Ila decided to stay in the present Ijesha and Igomina land of in Osun state. While the remaining fourteen (14) children continued with the journey and later settled in the present day Ekiti land. They discovered that there were many hills in the place and they said in their mother's language that this is 'Ile olokiti' the land of hills. Therefore, the Okiti later blended to Ekiti. So Ekiti derived her name through hills.

These are direct children and founder of Ekitiland, Igbominaland and Ijeshaland:

  1. Alara of Aramoko.
  2. Alaaye of Efon Alaaye Kingdom
  3. Ajero of Ijero Kingdom
  4. Arinjale of Ise
  5. Ewi of Ado
  6. Elekole of Ikole
  7. Ogoga of Ikere
  8. Atta of Ayede-ekiti
  9. Elemure of Emure
  10. Olohan of Erijiyan-Ekiti
  11. Oloye of Oye
  12. Olojudo of Ido
  13. Onire of Ire
  14. Onitaji of Itaji
  15. Onisan of Isan
  16. Oore of Otun Moba
  17. Owatapa of Itapa
  18. Orangun of Ila-Orangun
  19. Owa -obokun of Ijeshaland
  20. Ologotun of Ogotun
  21. Obanla of Ijesa-Isu
  22. Oluloro of Iloro-Ekiti
  23. Alare of Are Ekiti
  24. Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti
  25. Alawo of Awo Ekiti
  26. Oniye of Iye ekiti
  27. Olomuo of Omuo Land

The modern Ekiti state was formed from part of Ondo in 1996.[3]

Geography

The State is mainly an upland zone, rising over 250 meters above sea level. It lies on an area underlain by metamorphic rock. It is generally undulating country with a characteristic landscape that consists of old plains broken by step-sided out-crops that may occur singularly or in groups or ridges. Such rocks out-crops exist mainly at Aramoko, Efon-Alaaye, Ikere-Ekiti,Igbara-odo- ekiti and Okemesi-Ekiti. The State is dotted with rugged hills, notable ones being Ikere-Ekiti Hills in the south, Efon-Alaaye Hills on the western boundary and Ado-Ekiti Hills in the centre.

Climate and vegetation

The State enjoys tropical climate with two distinct seasons. These are the rainy season (April–October) and the dry season (November–March). Temperature ranges between 21° and 28 °C with high humidity. The south westerly wind and the northeast trade winds blow in the rainy and dry (Harmattan) seasons respectively. Tropical forest exists in the south, while savannah occupies the northern peripheries.

Towns and administrative divisions

The people of Ekiti State live mainly in towns. These towns include: Ado, Ikere Ekiti, Awo Ekiti, Ayegbaju Ekiti, Araromi Oke Ekiti, Efon-Alaaye, Aramoko Ekiti, Temidire-Ikole Local Govt, Igede Ekiti, Ikole, Ayede, Isan, Iye Ayede, Ire, Ijero, Ayetoro, Ipoti, Igogo, Ise, Itapa, Otun, Usi Ekiti, Ido, Emure, Iyin, Igede, Ilawe, Ode, Oye, Omuo, Ilupeju, Ikoro,Iloro, Ijurin, Ikun, Iye, Ijesa-Isu, Ayedun, Aisegba, Osin, Okemesi, Iworoko, Ifaki, Osan, Erinmope, Asin-Ekiti, Orin, Ilogbo Ekiti, Osi, Igbole, Ora, Aye, Ikogosi Erio, [Igbara-Odo](Ogotun), Erijiyan Ekiti Iludun, Ilemeso, Otun, Itapaji, Imojo, Ire Ekiti, Eda Oniyo, Gogo Ekiti, Odooro Ekiti, Ijan Ekiti, Epe Ekiti, Usi Ekiti, Ijesa-Isu Ekiti

Local Government Areas

Ekiti State consists of sixteen (16) Local Government Areas. They are:

Current list of Local Government Area Chairmen.[4]

Proposed 18 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs)in Ekiti State The Ekiti State Government is to create additional 18 Council Development Areas based on the recommendations of the White Paper Committee set up by the government.

In a press statement, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, said the new council areas will be created from the existing 16 local government areas following a referendum by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and consideration of the outcome of the referendum by the State House of Assembly.

They will operate as Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) pending the concurrence of the National Assembly, which would accord them the status of full-fledged local government councils.

According to the commissioner, the new councils and their proposed headquarters as contained in the White Paper and approved by the State Executive Council are as follows:

i) Ado West Local Council Development Area- Okesha

ii) Ado-North LCDA--------------------------------- Oke –Ila

iii) Ado-Central LCDA-------------------------------- Ijigbo

iv) Ekiti North-East LCDA--------------------------- Kota -Ekiti

v) Ogotun/Igbaraodo LCDA------------------------- Oke- Agbe

vi) Osi/Isokan LCDA --------------------------------- Ifaki

vii) Eka Meta LCDA----------------------------------- Erijiyan- Ekiti

viii) Okemesi/Ido Ile LCDA--------------------------- Okemesi - Ekiti

ix) Gbonyin LCDA------------------------------------ Aisegba

x) Irewolede LCDA--------------------------------- Iloro- Ekiti

xi) Irede LCDA--------------------------------------- Ipoti-Ekiti

xii) Ikere West LCDA------------------------------- Anaye

xiii) Ajoni LCDA-------------------------------------- Aiyedun

xiv) Ifelodun LCDA----------------------------------- Igbemo –Ekiti

xv) Araromi LCDA----------------------------------- Iyin –Ekiti

xvi) Ero LCDA----------------------------------------- Igogo

xvii) Ifesowapo LCDA-------------------------------- Bamisile Land

xviii) Ifeloju LCDA------------------------------------- Ilupeju- Ekiti

Demographics

The Ekiti, whose ancestors migrated from Ile-Ife as a people, form one of the largest ethnic groups in Yorubaland. Ekitis are culturally homogeneous and they speak a dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti. The homogeneous nature of Ekiti confers on the state some uniqueness among the states of the federation. Slight differences are noticeable in the Ekiti dialects of the Yoruba language spoken by the border communities to other states. For example, the people of Ado local government area do not speak exactly the same dialect with the people of Ijero Local government area, while the people of Ikole area speak something different from the people of Ikere area. The communities influenced by their locations include Otun (Moba land) that speaks a dialect close to the one spoken by the Igbominas in Kwara State. The people of Oke-Ako, Irele, Omuo speak a similar dialect to that of Ijesas of Osun State. However, part of the uniqueness of the Ekitis is that where ever is your own part of the state, you will understand well, when the other Ekiti man/woman speaks, in spite of the dialectal variations. In addition, all towns in Ekiti State take a common suffix, “Ekiti,” after their names. The main staple food of the people of Ekiti is pounded yam with Isapa soup or vegetable soup. NATURAL RESOURCES Ekiti land is naturally endowed with numerous natural resources. The state is potentially rich in mineral deposits. These include granite, kaolin, columbite, channockete, iron ore, baryte, aquamine, gemstone, phosphate, limestone,GOLD among others. They are largely deposited in different towns and villages of Ijero, Ekiti West, Ado - Ekiti, Ikole, Ikere, Ise-Ekiti and other Local Government Areas.

The Land is also blessed with water resources, some of its major rivers are Ero, Osun, Ose, and Ogbese. More so a variety of tourist attractions abound in the state namely, Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ipole - Iloro Water Falls, Olosunta hills, Ikere, Fajuyi Memorial Park Ado - Ekiti and so on. The Ikogosi tourist centre is the most popular and the most developed. The warm spring is a unique natural feature, and supporting facilities are developed in the centre. The spring is at present being processed and packaged into bottled water for commercial purpose by a private company - UAC Nigeria.

Moreover, the land is buoyant in agricultural resources with cocoa as its leading cash crop. It was largely known that Ekiti land constituted well over 40% of the cocoa products of the famous old Western Region. The land is also known for its forest resources, notably timber. Because of the favorable climatic conditions, the land enjoys luxuriant vegetation, thus, it has abundant resources of different species of timber. Food crops like yam, cassava, and also grains like rice and maize are grown in large qualities. Other notable crops like kola nut and varieties of fruits are also cultivated in commercial quantities.

PROMINENT EKITI INDIGENS Prof. Akin Oyebode,Prof. Patrick Aina,Prof. I. Orubuloye,Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Afeni Ayodele Ajayi, Michael Olusegun Oluwole, Oluwole Segun Michael, Prof. Owa Afolabi, Prof. Akin Osuntokun, Prof. Ekundayo Adeyinka Adeyemi, Navy Capt. Olubolade, Chief Michael Akin Omoboriowo, Chief Bamidele Olumilua, Maj. Gen. Adebayo, Adeniyi Adebayo, Segun Oni, Paul Olatunde Alabi, D. A. Adeyemo, S. K. Babalola, Prof. Tunde Adeniran,Prof. Adesegun Ojo, Mr. Ayo Fayose, Dr. Kayode Fayemi,Senator Olowoporoku, Chief Dr. Victor Olubi Fatunla, Prof. Aluko, Hon. Rufus Ayo Adakeja, Pa. Paul Oluwole Jeje, Hon. Jeje (Author Asa Ati Orisa Ile Yoruba).

References

  1. 1 2 "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  2. ↑ "Ekiti: Fayose, Olujimi, Aderemi Lose Out". Nigerian Tribune Online (African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc.). 2007-04-28. Archived from the original on 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
  3. ↑ Cohen, Saul B., ed. The Columbia Gazeteer of the World (New York: Columbia University Press, 1998) vol 1, p. 915
  4. ↑ http://ekitistate.gov.ng/administration/local-govt/caretaker-chairmen-and-secretaries-of-local-governments/

REFERENCES

Adeniyi, G.O. HRH Oba: A Royal Input Into the Creation of Ekiti State, USP, Ado-Ekiti, 1997

Awolowo, O: Thoughts on Nigeria Constitution (1966), Oxford

Babatola, Jadesola: A Will in the Wind – Biography of High Chief J.E. Babatola, Samadek Publishers, Lagos, 2008

Babatola, Jadesola: This Fiery Man –Thoughts of High Chief J.E. Babatola (Essay in History), Samadek Publishers, Lagos, 2008

Fasuan, Oladeji : Creation of Ekiti State (The Epic Struggle of a People), IMNL, Ado-Ekiti, 2002

Forde, D. : The Yoruba Speaking Peoples of South Western Nigeria, Oxford Press, London, 1951

Oguntuyi, A.O. Monsg : History of Ekiti, Bisi Books, Ibadan, 1979

Oguntuyi, A.O. Monsg : Traditional Ekiti Kingdoms, Hope Paper Mills, Ado-Ekiti, 2007

Ojo, G.J.A : Yoruba Culture: A Geographical Analysis, University of London Press, 1966

Okoroma, James : Omoboriowo, Storm Rider, Premier Press, Abuja, 2005

Olomola, Isola: Ekitiparapo Aspirations Since 1890s, Andkolad, Ile-Ife, 2005 http://saharareporters.com/news-page/ekiti-create-18-additional-council-development-areas

Sources

External links

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