We will not allow outsiders to take over Ekiti land – Fayemi

As the controversy over the federal government’s decision to set up RUGA settlements in some states rages, Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, on Monday vowed that as long as he remains the governor, the state will not be taken over by outsiders.

Fayemi who spoke while on a condolence visit to Orin-Ekiti where Emmanuel Ilori, a 65-year-old hunter, was killed at the weekend by suspected herdsmen, promised to bring to an end the spate of killings in Ekiti.

The governor who also condemned those politicising Ilori’s death, stated that efforts were in place to arrest Ilori’s killers.

Fayemi said, “Nobody is coming to take our land in Ekiti; the governor of Ekiti state has power over the land of Ekiti and it is the person that the governor gives land in Ekiti that can use the land of Ekiti.”

“If there are negative comments being peddled around that some people are coming to take over Ekiti land, it’s mere hearsay. It cannot happen in Ekiti except I am no longer the governor of Ekiti state and there is nobody that can be governor in Ekiti that will cede Ekiti land to outsiders because our land is not even enough for us.

“Adequate security of our people is what concerns me most in Ekiti and Nigeria and I want our people to ignore the lies and falsehood some individuals are spreading around. There is nobody that will be governor in Ekiti that will allow outsiders to take over our communities from the people here or say that people coming from elsewhere should come and take over Ekiti land.”

“Those saying this are only playing politics with the matter. This is not politics, security is an issue that concerns all of us,” he said.

“Some individuals have been spreading baseless rumours to cause disaffection because they are no longer in power and it is their wish that Ekiti should be consumed by anarchy.

“I want to assure you that our government has not stopped work on security. No single individual or group can provide security; the local hunters know their terrains very well than our security agents and it will serve the people well if they work together.”