Awards For Fayose, Oni, Adebayo, Others Not Politically Motivated – Fayemi
The imminent state honors to be given on his predecessors, Ayodele Fayose, Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni, and 45 others, as well as a legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), have no political overtone, according to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
The 48 awards were chosen on merit, according to Fayemi, who explained that the illustrious Ekiti indigenes were judged fit for their contributions to the state’s development in all aspects.
Fayemi made the announcement through the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu, at a press conference on Wednesday to mark the first edition of the ‘Oni Uyi Awards 2021,’ which will take place on October 30.
Col. Inua Bawa and Commodore Atanda Yusuf, two former state military administrators, would benefit from the new honours created by Fayemi’s government to recognize persons he categorizes as Ekiti’s “Architects and Builders.”
He said honouring Fayose and Oni, who are chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), shows the awards are bereft of political undertone, saying: “It is history that is bringing us together, not politics.
“Governors Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni are of PDP, but they have contributed their quotas. When it comes to the issue of development, Governor Fayemi is not political. The interest of Ekiti is supreme and paramount to him”.
The governor stated that the categories of honours they will be garlanded with include: Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (EEA), Member of Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (MEEA), Member of Ekiti Meritorious Service (MEMS), Distinguished Friends of Ekiti, Member of Distinguished Friends of Ekiti (DFE) and Ekiti Reputable Entrepreneurship (ERE).
He added that the conferment of the award is in compliance with the Ekiti State Honours Law, 2020, assented to by Fayemi, to recognise and reward distinguished and hardworking individuals, who have excelled in their respective careers and support the development of the state.
Other distinguished Ekiti to be honoured are the Chairman, Committee for the creation of Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan; the current Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji; Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide; and the late Mrs Bola Omojola.
Also to be garlanded with awards are top-rated traditional rulers like the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adewole; Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare; and the Obanla of Ijesa Isu, Oba Gabriel Adeniyi.
