By Gbenga Ariyibi, Ado Ekiti

The family of the  late Chief Elijah Babalola,the first university graduate  in Ekiti State and  Minister of Public Works during the time  of  the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of  the defunct Western Region, have expressed  displeasure over  alleged abandonment  of the family by the state and federal governments.The  family are equally  shocked  that 28 years after the demise of the  first African Principal of the famous Christ’s  School, Ado Ekiti,  government has not  deemed it fit to honour the late politician.

Speaking at Saint Micheal Anglican Church,Oye Ekiti  during the launching of a  magazine in  honour of the late politician, one of his sons, Mr Akin Babalola, expressed the displeasure of  the family to  government which, according to him, has  abandoned the family.

The son, who recounted the contributions of his late father to the development of his immediate community,Oye Ekiti and the country as a whole, noted  that some of the roads and public utilities put in place during the regime of  Awolowo were the brainchild of his late father.

”Aside this, my late father  taught  in many places like Ijebu,Sagamu ,Oyo,Abeokuta ,Ibadan before he became the first African  Principal of Christ’s School Ado Ekiti. ”He was equally instrumental to the coming together and urbanisation of many communities both in the state and outside Ekiti  today, especially Iyin,Oye, Ikole, Ikare-Akoko. ”The late chief and Papa  Adekunle Ajasin were commissioned to prepare a policy paper on free education at Olowo’s palace at Owo.

”I have personally written to the president,Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and Ekiti State governor,Dr Kayode Fayemi, on the need to remember and honour this great Nigerian, even posthumously. But, up till now, there has been no response.” Speaking also at the occasion,  one-time minister,Chief Ayo Ogunlade, commended the late politician for his contributions, especially for championing the movement of Oye town from the old site to the present sit.