Fayemi confers ‘Oni Uyi’ honours on Babalola, ex-governors, others

• Says posterity will judge them right
• Opens register to keep a record of Ekiti achievers

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the weekend, conferred the maiden ‘Oni Uyi’ honours on 48 distinguished Nigerians categorised as ‘architects and builders’ of Ekiti State.

Those bestowed with the maiden honours included former Governors Ayodele Fayose, Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni and 45 others, including a legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe.

Also, two former state’s Military Administrators, Col. Inua Bawa and Commodore Atanda Yusuf, and those who worked for the creation of Ekiti State such as Chief Deji Fasuan, were also presented with distinguished honours.

Fayemi said the honour was conceptualised to sustain the values of hard work, honesty, integrity and scholarship, which the state was renowned and respected for.

The governor said that given the prominent and distinguished roles played by some notable state citizens, posterity would judge them well.

Fayemi noted that the roles played by those eminent personalities to preserve and celebrate Ekiti values of diligence, honesty and integrity, accounted for their deserved awards.

He said that decision accounted for why he enacted the Ekiti Honours Roll Law 41 of 2020, which prescribed and mandated conferment of yearly ‘Oni Uyi’ honours on those who participated actively in the development of the state as architects and builders.

Besides, the governor said his administration had opened honour’s register in the state containing names of individuals that have contributed immensely to the creation and development of the state.

“As at the time Ekiti State was created by the regime of Gen. Sani Abacha, there were also struggles for the creation of Ijebu, Oke-Ogun, Ibadan and Coastal states in Yorubaland and you could now see the level of commitment, tactics and diplomacy that our leaders brought to fore to realise the creation of our dear state.

“We honour these architects, builders of Ekiti State and demonstrate that it pays to live honorably and serve the common good. It will be recalled that the Ekiti State honours award was a prominent feature of our first administration. We believe that Ekiti pristine values of diligence, honesty and integrity should be celebrated.

“One of the ways of doing this is by acknowledging those who had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour. It is to recognise and reward distinguished and hardworking individuals, who have excelled in their respective chosen careers or callings; to recognise and reward those who have in one way or another supported the development of Ekiti State, engender patriotism and uphold the core values of Ekiti people,” he said.