The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged that the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state should not be conducted under the atmosphere of war, saying Yoruba should resist attempt to put them against one another over elections.
The monarch said this at the 23rd convocation of the Ekiti State University where he also bagged Doctor of Public Administration (honoris causa) of the institution, warning politicians against misuse of power and resort to rigging during the poll.
Oba Ogunwusi said power belongs to God adding that time has come for Ekiti to display its homogeneity by electing Governor Ayodele Fayose’s successor through a peaceful and credible poll.
He said: “We don’t want war in the coming election. We don’t want violence and wanton killings in the name of election.
“We don’t want anyone to set Yoruba race against each other again. Power belongs to God and when it comes to election, the people have the power to elect their leaders and the power to elect doesn’t belong to the powerful people alone.
“So, this time, let the people decide who lead them. Time has come for us to know that power belongs to God and He gives to whoever He likes. We must see and view Ekiti as first in our hearts."
Others, who bagged similar award were: the former Registrar of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and that of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Chief Alex Ajayi, Mr. Abiodun Adedapo, Dr Olasehinde Olatunji, Mr Israel Ovirih and Dr Falil Ayo Abina, are to be honoured with Doctor of Public Administration, Doctor of Finance, Doctor of Public Administration and Doctor of Economics, respectively.
The wives of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose and that of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Janet Olusola, bagged Masters Degrees in Guardian and Counseling of the University.
Governor Ayodele Fayose in his remark, said his commitment to education propelled him to initiate policies that moved the state forward from number 35th to first in national examination in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
He said his government had impacted positively on the people’s lives in the areas of agriculture, health and social and human infrastructures, adding that posterity shall judge him well as a governor, who did exceedingly well for the populace.
He described those conferred with honourary doctorate degrees as people with integrity, who had contributed to the development of the nation in all spheres.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Samuel Oye Bandele, said the university had ventured into bakery, block making and other ventures that could impact positively on the university to jack up its Internally Generated revenue.
