Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have appealed to the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to revisit their welfare packages that have allegedly been bastardised in the last four years.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said the traditional rulers narrated their ordeals at a meeting with the governor in his office on Tuesday.
The traditional rulers reportedly lamented that their salaries were not paid regularly and their allowances slashed to 40 per cent leading to situations where some of them got sitting allowances as low as N2,000 or N400.
The statement said, “The Obas, led by their Chairman, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye- Ekiti, said it was unfortunate that custodians of the culture and tradition of the people could be treated in such a shabby and despicable manner where peanuts approved for them could not be paid while some people were living grandiose lifestyle.
“They called on the governor to be compassionate on them and return their rights and privileges that have been denied them in the last four years, urging that their plight should be looked into within the ambit of available resources.
“The Obas also used the opportunity to appreciate the governor for the cars he bought for them five years ago which the majority of them are still using. They, however, lamented that about 13 Obas who were crowned after the exercise were denied official vehicles by the Fayose’s administration.
“They gave kudos to Fayemi for giving over 120 cars to all Ekiti Obas during his first tenure adding that it was commendable and unprecedented in the history of the state and Nigeria at large.”
Earlier, Fayemi had solicited their support for his administration adding that government could not move forward without the support of the traditional institution.
While assuring them that his administration would complete all abandoned projects before his tenure lapses, the governor promised to partner with them in his drive to develop the state as all projects would be based on the needs of the people.
