By Gbenga Ariyibi
…as Ekiti govt assures of  siting at Ikole-Ekiti
Ado-Ekiti—Ikole-Ekiti community, the site for the proposed federal university took to streets, yesterday, protesting  alleged moves by certain powerful people in the state to relocate the new university, saying they were ready to defend the siting  of the university in the town.

Minister of  State, Federal Capital Territory, Navy Caleb Olubolade (rtd) had earlier in the week accused the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of politicising the issue of siting the university, saying the Federal Executive Council would soon meet to decide where the university would be sited.

The protesters, mostly  youths and some aged women, trooped out as early as 8a.m and converged at the palace of Elekole where they were rained curses on those making  the subterranean moves to relocate the proposed federal university.

The aggrieved  youths, operating under the umbrella of  Ikole Local Government Students Union led by Mr. Michel Adesoji, made bonfires and carried placards of various inscriptions, condemning the outburst of Senator Ayo Arise and the Minister of State for FCTe, Navy Capt.  Olubolade that the university would be relocated to Oye-Ekiti.

However Despite the controversies trailing the siting of the proposed Fedreal University in the state, Ekiti State Governmen has assured the people of the state and indeed all Nigerians,   that the decision to site the Federal University allocated to the state in Ikole-Ekiti  was done by the state government after  due consultations with other stakesholders.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Mojeed Jamiuin,  yesterday, the state government was not ready to change its decision over the siting of the  new university.

It said: “Following deep consultations with the relevant stakeholders including the officials of the Federal Government, state government, traditional rulers and community leaders, Governor Kayode Fayemi chosed Ikole-Ekiti as site of the new Federal University.

“Before the decision to site the university in Ikole was made public, the Governor had also consulted with the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission, NUC.”