New Group Meets in Lagos, Vows to Defend Ekiti Values, Heritage

A new group of Ekiti artisans, scholars and professionals have met in Lagos with a vow to mobilise the people to uphold the age-long values of truth and integrity once associated with Èkiti people.

The inaugural meeting which held in Lagos drew participants from Labour, students, artisans and professionals from different local government areas of the state.

The Ekiti People United Congress, (EPUC) said the socio-political and economic transformation of Ekiti depended solely on integrity, honesty and the greatest values of humanity imbibed by the people and the few they have chosen to lead them.

“We are here to make history. We are committed to a new Ekiti with the slogan: Lift Ekiti Beyond the Sky. The focal point is the people and the agenda is to build a new mindset, a new orientation that honours hardwork, dignity of labour, integrity and trust” the statement signed by Omolade Faluyi issued after the meeting stated.

EPUC said Ekiti people have to be united along the lowest common factor, (LCF) of honour in order for prosperity to flourish, adding that Ekiti in the past was recognised as the bedrock of Yoruba principles of good conscience, courage and integrity which have diminished over the years.

EPUC said it noticed with satisfaction the recent report by Subnational Audit Efficacy, which rated Ekiti as No1 in transparency, accountability and good governance, adding that it showed clearly the possibility of Ekiti leading Nigeria in all aspects of economic and political endeavours driven by truth and good conscience.

“What creates wealth and prosperity of the people is not money or resources, but the integrity and values shared by majority of the people and those who manage public institutions and the available resources,” EPUC said.

Acoording to the new group, it has the responsibility to educate, mobilise and energise the people in all the 142 towns and villages to uphold integrity and the dignity of man, founded on the time-tested reputation of Ekiti values, adding that the decline in values automatically leads to corruption, ineptitude and mismanagement which breeds poverty and crime in low and high places

The group said the people were never averse to genuine and selfless education and public enlightenment that would lead to a new set of thinking and orientation that would produce the greatest happiness for the highest number of people.

“EPUC will have selfless representatives in all the 177 wards across the state who will be saddled with the responsibility of constructive engagement with the people, public enlightenment campaign and mass re-orientation through available social, cultural and faith-based platforms for a greater Ekiti for the benefit of mankind and to the glory of God.

The group said “Our target is to have 250,000 members and volunteers before the end of the year who are committed to promoting the greatest values in private and public lives of our people. This is the only way good governance can triumph with democracy deepened and people’s inclusion in their own social, political and economic affairs guaranteed.

The group said Ekiti in the past had produced political actors that in the first place should never have held public offices, but emerged to control the destiny of the people due to a new sociology that placed material gains beyond the dignity of man.

EPUC said it recognised the good work and contributions of some past and present leaders adding that the legacies of such leaders the people ought to honour, uphold and defend.

EPUC said it was not affiliated to any political party, but will not hesitate to guide the people on best practices with a view to avoiding Ekiti leadership space being taken over by dregs and social misfits.

“We recognise the enormity of the work at hand. We are prepared and determined to change the atmosphere in a revolutionary manner that will enable the people to set the best minimum standard of excellence in every sphere if life in Ekiti state”, the group stated.

The meeting presided over by multiple award winning journalist, Adewale Adeoye, had other attendants including Dr Dare Ajayi; Kunle Ajisafe of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC); former General Secretary, Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), David Ajetumobi; Adebola Ologun of South-West Professionals, (SOWPROF); Dr Deji Abayomi; former president, Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners Association of Nigeria (NANTAP), Mr Abiodun Abe; former member of the Lagos State Trust Fund, Mr Popoola Ajayi;
General Secretary,
Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) a coalition of over 100 pan-Yoruba groups President, Mr Taiwo Adeleye formerly of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); and President of Agbekoya Solidarity, Mr Kunle Oshodi, amongst many others.

Other promoters include Prince Tunde Adeleke, Mr Olaseni Osameyan, Ekiti professionals in Diaspora and three other traditional rulers in Ekiti State.

Two indigenes of Ekiti working with foreign missions in Nigeria also attended the historic event.