The former member of House of Representatives, Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 (Ijero, Ekiti West & Efon LGAs ), Honourable Yemi Arokodare has presented a memorandum for the creation of Ijero Municipal Local Government Area to the National Assembly.
He was received by the House of Representatives Spokesperson,Hon.Akin Rotimi,Jnr (Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1) at the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, 25th March.
Arokodare while presenting the proposed Ijero Municipal Local Government Area creation memoranda drafted by the Committee for the Actualisation of Ijero Municipal LGA to the House Committee on House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, said as a former member Representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 (Ijero, Ekiti West & Efon LGAs) he’s there to present demands of the Ijero -Ekiti people that has been yearning for municipal local government status since 1996 immediately after the creation of Ekiti State .
The Memorandum for the Actualisation of Ijero Municipal LGA explained the historical antecedents,economic viability and other potentials of the proposed Ijero Municipal Local Government Area from the existing Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
Ijero Municipal Local Government Area with the proposed headquarters at Ijero -Ekiti , is the metropolitan, nodal town and headquarters of the present Ijero LGA of Ekiti State and contributes about 80% of its internally generated revenue base of the present Ijero Local Government Area.
The proposed Ijero Municipal Local Government Area is blessed with Agriculture export and Timber including Teak, Iroko Mahogany Obeche and mineral resources like Tourmaline topaz quartz tantalum and others potentials.
Agro -Allied industries hold great promises in the proposed Ijero Municipal LGA.Hon Yemi Arokodare said.
In his own words,Femi Alufa, Secretary for the Actualisation of Ijero Municipal LGA said Tourism and Traditional Festivals and other human activities hold economic potentials of the proposed Ijero Municipal LGA include the area of tapping our Ita Ajero Festival,Ogun Festival and the Eyekun Afin Royal Cemetery, which has a potential as a World Heritage Site in the new Ijero Municipal LGA of Ekiti State.
Hon.Kayode Alufa, the Chairman of the Committee for Ijero Municipal LGA said that the local government remains the government that is nearest to the people as the third tier of government and the creation of Ijero Municipal Local Government Area will be more beneficial for the Ijero -Ekiti people that have been yearning for municipality status for many decades ago
With the memorandum for creation of Ijero Municipal Local Government Area submitted by Hon.Yemi Arokodare on behalf of the Committee for the Actualisation of Ijero Municipal Local Government Area, if approved by the National Assembly it will turn the dream of the good people of Ijero -Ekiti to reality.
The present Ijero Local Government Area created in 1976 is the second most populous local government area in Ekiti State after Ado-Ekiti LGA but has been marginalized in terms of state constituency and other dividends of democracy.
“Ijero -Ekiti is blessed in terms of natural and human resources and I am sure if Ijero Municipal Local Government Area is carved out of the present Ijero LGA,the proposed Ijero Municipal Local Government Area will turn out to be one of the best and leading Local Government Area in terms Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) profile and model of development in the country “.Hon.Arokodare said.
The 9 – Member, Committee for the Actualisation of Ijero Municipal LGA, Ekiti State are:
Hon.Kayode Alufa – Chairman,
Hon.Yemi Arokodare,
Hon.Ademola Ojo,
Princess Adetoun Agboola ,
Barr.Tosin Osundahunsi,
Hon.Babatola Akutupu,
Hon.Adeyemo Adeola,
Pastor Peter Akosile ,
Mr.Femi Alufa – Secretary.
“We therefore commend the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended) on Local Government Creation our foregoing request with all candour, constancy of purpose and sense of responsibility to create Ijero Municipal Local Government Area from the present Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State”.