FOR weeks, Omuo and Ilawe communities in Ekiti state have been at loggerheads over who hosts the newly-created Federal College of Education approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari weeks to the end of his tenure. The ICIR’s Marcus Fatunmole visited the communities, interviewed stakeholders, and presented his findings in this report.
The two communities are among the scores of Ekiti towns sharing common traditions, language and heritage. But the quest to host a Federal Government institution has pitched them against each other.
It all started on April 18, 2023, when Ibrahim Gambari, a professor and the Chief of Staff to former President Buhari, signed a letter approving the establishment of the Federal College of Education in Ilawe, Ekiti State, and six other schools in other states.
The letter sent shock waves to Omuo when the news broke. The town had waited for the President to sign a bill backing the school creation and siting in the community, but Buhari opted for Ilawe as the host community and ignored the bill.
While streams of joy flowed in Ilawe over the news, tempers rose in Omuo, and protests raged.
Turns of events saw the communities hurling a barrage of abuses at each other in the media, but they were too far apart to engage in physical combat.
The genesis
The senator who represented Ekiti South in the eight and ninth Senate, Biodun Olujimi, sponsored a bill for the school creation. She hails from Omuo.
The bill, titled the “Federal College of Education Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, 2021,” was first read at the Senate on February 13, 2020.
It passed through the second and third readings on October 30, 2020, and September 21, 2021.
It also had a concurrence at the House of Representatives and was transmitted to the President for signing in 2022.
The government sealed its decision to establish the school in Ilawe by appointing the institution’s principal officers through a letter carrying Sunday, May 28 date – a day before the end of the administration. Earlier, the chief of staff of the then president Ibrahim Gambari issued a memo with SH/COS/02/A/3342 on April 18 stating that the school was approved.
Top government officials who have worked in the Presidency and ministries interviewed by The ICIR said government documents could not carry Sunday dates because government offices do not open on weekends.
The officials, in the rank of director, claimed anonymity for fear of being punished and called for a probe into the letter.
In the letter with reference number FME/PS/569/C.I/II/89 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew David Adejo, the government appointed Ajigbade Ikuejube, a doctorate holder, as the college provost.
The ICIR observed that the ministry misspelled the new provost’s name as ‘Ijkuejube’ instead of ‘kuejube’.
Ikuejube is a former Acting Provost of the Federal College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State. He worked for several years at the college and served in various capacities.
Days after the ministry released the circular, Alawe of Alawe, Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, Afuntade 1, broke the news of the college’s take-off to his community at a media briefing.
The monarch’s briefing evoked more rage in Omuo, which accused Ilawe of hijacking the college.
Youth and other residents took to the streets in protest for at least three days. The demonstrations affected commuters and other travellers plying the border town. Omuo borders Kwara, Kogi and Ondo States.
Omuo residents attributed ‘high-level politicking’ at the Presidency to why Buhari approved the school for Ilawe.
A cross-section of Omuo residents interviewed claimed that the victory of Yemi Adaramodu, an Ilawe indigene and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over Olujimi of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at the February 25 National Assembly poll conferred an advantage on Ilawe to get the school from the Buhari government.
Others blamed Omuo’s loss in hosting the institution on Olujimi’s staying in the PDP rather than defecting to the ruling APC before the general election.
The ICIR reports that the two communities parade an array of illustrious sons and daughters, including Femi Bamisile, a member of the House of Representatives (from Omuo), and Femi Falana, a prominent senior advocate ( from Ilawe).
Speaking with the ICIR reporter in his palace on August 26, Olomuo of Omuo Kingdom, Oba Noah Adejuwon Omonigbehin (Okinbaloye II), described siting the school in Ilawe as a ‘mystery’ and a ‘hijack’.
He argued that there was never a time when Ilawe requested any Federal College of Education from the Federal Government.
“There was never a time when Alawe and Ilawe community were invited by the Committee of the Senate on Tertiary Institution and TETFund,” he said, stressing that his community, including himself, was invited to Abuja by the government and National Assembly over the institution.
The Olomuo said he and other stalwarts from his community attended public hearings on the school bill, and nobody represented Ilawe.
“To our dismay, we just heard that the school had been approved for Ilawe. I don’t know what parameter they used,” he said.
He added, “We want him (Alawe) to show when he was invited by the Senate, to the House of Representatives, the Committee of TETFund and Tertiary Institution. Even the bill that was passed was duly signed by the President of the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate.
“We wonder how someone who did not ask for a thing would come up that they have been given that thing.”
He called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate and do justice to the matter.
Monarch blames Education Ministry, Senator
The Olomuo accused the Education Ministry of being the mastermind of the ‘hijack.’ He also said Adaramodu could not absolve himself from the matter.
“You can see the hasty attitude and action of the Federal Ministry of Education. Federal Ministry of Education issued a letter that is contestable. In the letter they wrote, they appointed principal officers dated May 28, which is a Sunday. Our question is: has it been a new policy of the Federal Ministry of Education to open office on Sundays?”
The monarch contended that the government should look into the equitable distribution of federal institutions in the state.
Speaking on how his part of Ekiti was ‘deprived’ of any higher institution of learning, he said the Ikere community, neighbouring Ado, had the state University of Education, Ado got the Federal Polytechnic and the State University, and Ilawe, also neighbouring the state capital, wanted the Federal College.
He said Omuo had taken the matter to the Public Complaint Commission in Abuja, and the commission had forwarded its report to the Presidency. He added that the community planned to meet the President over the matter.
The ICIR reports that Omuo and Ilawe are in the same senatorial district but about 100 kilometres apart.
“Ilawe to Ado Ekiti is not up to 30 minutes. If you look at Ilawe to Ikere, it is about 25 minutes. Look at this axis here, as a senatorial district, nothing at all—no Federal Government presence. Omuo is strategically located. It is a nodal town, having a border with Ondo, Kwara and Kogi States. It is also a gateway to Abuja. Such an institution is more suitable for Omuo than any other area in Ekiti State,” the Olomuo said.
He explained that he had no issue with the Alawe or his community but said it was shocking that the town could “come through the back door” to claim what Omuo had worked for many years.
According to him, the issue could have deteriorated to a physical clash between the two communities, but for the distance.
He said he had appealed to his people, especially the youth, to be patient to allow Omuo to use diplomacy and peaceful means to reclaim the institution.
Media have no role to play in crisis – Alawe
The reporter was at the palace of Alawe on August 25. The monarch said he was out of town. The reporter got his phone number from a youth in the community, called him and explained his mission for coming to the palace.
The monarch asked a series of questions on the phone and concluded that The ICIR had an ‘interest’ in the matter.
Some of the questions he asked the reporter include, “Who is funding you?”, “What’s your interest in the matter?”
He eventually asked the reporter to wait for him in the palace. “I travelled. I’m on my way back. I will soon be in the palace,” he explained.
Some 30 minutes later, he called the reporter and told him he would not be available again that day. The reporter pleaded to return to his hotel and meet him the following day. He said he wasn’t funding the reporter’s work and would not ask him to wait till another day.
The reporter told him he had enough funds to care for himself for many days in the state. The monarch retorted, “What is your interest (in the matter) that you’re funding yourself? You don’t have an appointment with me, and I’m unavailable.”
He promised to call the reporter, and he never did.
While concluding the investigation, on Friday, September 8, the reporter again called the king to obtain his reaction to the allegation levelled against his community.
“I’m not interested in any discussion with you. You don’t have any role to play,” he said, ending the call abruptly.
Bills not law, of no effect on executive decisions – Adaramodu
Adaramodu said bills not signed by a President are not laws and can’t be binding on the society.
He denied having a hand in the school’s location in his community.
He argued that he had superiors in Ilawe – more educated, influential and exposed – who worked for the community’s development and would not stop them.
He said the town’s monarch is a retiree from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who could ask for projects in his community from Abuja and anywhere.
“Those people who alleged must have told you how I was instrumental, whether I am law to myself or whether I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who approved school. They should tell. We all know how a school can be sited. It is the prerogative of the executive. Moreover, I was in the Ninth Assembly (as a Rep.) We all know that if there is any law that is existing, nobody can change that law.
“When they sited the school, I was just two weeks old in the Senate. How can somebody who is two weeks old in the Senate change any law? Is it possible? Does it speak well at all? Anything done by the Ninth Assembly, the Tenth Assembly cannot touch it. If a bill has not become law, you cannot even touch it at the Tenth Assembly. It went away with that Assembly, and then you have to start again,” he said.
The lawmaker said Ilawe people also went for the public hearing in Abuja over the siting of a Law School, and the government gave the institution to its sister community.
He also explained that Iyin Ekiti went for public hearing over the siting of the University of Health Sciences, and the government denied the community.
He alleged that Olujimi used the bill she sponsored for the Federal College to deceive the Omuo people to enable her to win a re-election.
“Politicians are just manipulating the people. They are just using the ignorance of the people in law-making…They are just playing politics with our people. Auntie Olujimi said that she sponsored the bill. Ask her if that amounts to a law. Has it been assented to? Several legislators will say they want schools in their communities. Does the executive site those schools?”
He said the National Assembly had passed “several thousand” bills, which didn’t become law, adding that the National Assembly would not create a school or any institution but the executive.
Adaramodu said he invited Omuo stakeholders to Abuja to join him in finding the truth about the school’s creation and siting, but they shunned him.
When told that the letter appointing the school’s principal officers was issued and signed on Sunday, May 28, he said it was not his business but of the Ministry of Education.
He called for peace and understanding between the communities, as, according to him, there is no way the towns will not work together.
He urged Omuo to discover the truth, stressing that he loved the two communities as others in the state.
Education Ministry declines interview with The ICIR
The reporter was at the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday, August 31, to hear from the Permanent Secretary why he signed the letter appointing the principal officers on a Sunday and to get his reaction to the allegation that the ministry colluded with some people to convince Buhari to site the school in Ilawe.
At his office door on the first floor of the ministry, every visitor fills out a form stating why they want to see him. The reporter did, and the private security guard manning the door took the note to him.
The Permanent Secretary refused to attend to the reporter, who spent nearly three hours in his waiting room. Adejo attended to everyone in the waiting room except the reporter, who waited till after 5 p.m. before leaving.
It’s not time for me to talk over college – Olujimi
Meanwhile, Olujimi, who is challenging Adaramodu’s victory in court, declined to react. She texted the reporter, who requested having an interview with her on the government siting of the college in Ilawe, saying, “Sorry, I don’t intend to speak on it for now. It’s not yet time.”
A leader in Omuo, Segun Akanle, was among the first people who went for the first reading of the bill.
He told the reporter during an interview, “I was shocked when we heard that Ilawe people were jubilating a few weeks ago when they were receiving the principal officers of the school. That was the first news about the school. There was no pronouncement from the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Federal Education.
“We just read online that the principal officers for the Federal College of Education had resumed in Ilawe. We were shocked. We also learnt from Alawe’s media briefing that he had set up a committee that would see to the smooth take-off of the school. That was where we picked the whole thing up.”
He said the Omuo community petitioned the Federal Character Commission, the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Education.
He said when Omuo stakeholders attended the public hearing in Abuja on the bill, the Senate announced that if any community had an interest as Omuo, it should indicate. No town showed up, he stated.
“But to my dismay, when we went for the petition in Abuja recently, the Ministry of Education told us that Ilawe had written for request since 2017. “Where was Ilawe since 2018?.”
He said the name of Ilawe just came up between March and May this year.
The ICIR contacted Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Gambari, to request his reaction to the allegation of collusion between the Education Ministry and the Presidency officials over the siting of the college in Ilawe.
He did not respond to calls and messages sent to him in this regard.
This organisation also reached out to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu and the Speaker of the Ninth House of Representatives, under whose leadership the bill had a concurrence at the Lower Chamber.
The ICIR sought to know if he was aware of the crisis the school’s siting was causing between the two towns and how the President would resolve the matter.
He did not respond to calls, texts and WhatsApp messages sent to his phone number.
Why communities want college – Findings
Apart from guaranteeing the socio-economic transformation of the host community, The ICIR found that none of the two communities has a commercial bank.
This organisation reports that while the only bank in Ilawe had shut down because of fear of armed robbery attacks on banks in communities in the state, Omuo does not have any, except the one in Omuo-Oke, its neighbour.
Many houses are unoccupied in the two communities, and economic activities in the largely agrarian towns are low.
In Omuo, there has been no grid electricity for eight years.
In 2022, The ICIR reported how Omuo and its environs had not seen grid electricity for seven years.
When the reporter carried out this investigation in late August 2023, the community had yet to get the light, but work was ongoing.
Residents interviewed said with the school, the light would return faster than expected.
The ICIR reports that while Omuo lies on a plateau, Ilawe is enveloped by hills and valleys.
The reporter contacted Yinka Oyebode, the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, to know how the state government is handling the crisis. He did not pick up the reporter’s calls or respond to the text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.
Similarly, efforts by the reporter to know how the Ekiti State Police Command is maintaining the peace in both communities proved abortive, as the command’s spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, has yet to respond to the text and Whatsapp messages sent to him.
He had promised to call the reporter back when he called him earlier.
Communities pick temporary sites for college
Ilawe and Omuo have picked a temporary campus for the new college.
The ICIR visited the secondary schools the towns offered for the school’s take-off.
Omuo picked Amunnu Comprehensive High School along Ikare (Ondo State) Road, while Ilawe chose United High School along Igede Ekiti.
Each school has about 20 classrooms, administrative offices, a large hall and wide land space.
The ICIR reports that given the conditions of the schools, it is unlikely the institution will commence operation immediately because both lack the infrastructure for a comfortable take-off for the institution.
The reporter gathered that prominent indigenes in both communities donated their houses to the school to boost its operations.
A resident of Ilawe, Akinniyi Bada, a pastor, said the institution was a great development for the community. He expressed delight with the college coming to the town.
“We have been agitating for it for a long time. The community is very happy to receive the school.”
He said the town was waiting to receive the students and the college’s workforce.
“We are ready to accommodate everyone. We are ready to accept the students as friends, daughters and children because we’ve been expecting the school for a long time.
He said the school would bring development to the community.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org