Ekiti won’t honour Abacha, says commissioner

[Defender]

The Ekiti State Government yesterday denied plans by the state to honour the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha. It said the late dictator did nothing to merit honour.

Commissioner for Information Funminiyi Afuye was reacting to calls by a group, Ekiti Eye, for the immortalisation of the late Abacha, who created the state 15 years ago.

Afuye said: "We cannot honour him. Ekiti is not his creation. Ekiti has existed from time immemorial. That somebody carved it as a geographical entity is not enough for honour. This is especially against the backdrop that Abacha was not a democrat.

"This government is a product of the struggle for democracy, which Abacha opposed in his life time. We cannot honour him. We only honour people who have made positive contributions to the lives of our people."

Ekiti State was carved out of the Old Ondo State on October 1, 1996, with five other states, during the late Abacha's regime.

Ekiti Eye President Gbenga Ogedengbe had, at a book presentation in Ado-Ekiti last week, urged the state government to honour the late Abacha for creating the state.

Ogedengbe had said: "If not for the late General Abacha, Ekiti would probably not be talking about Government House or House of Assembly. For Abacha's October 1, 1996 decisive action, he deserves to be remembered always and appreciated by Ekiti people."

Ogedengbe also canvassed that similar recognitions should be accorded to selected senior citizens of the state, who contributed to its creation, development and sustenance, such as former Military Governor of the Old Western State of Nigeria, General Adeyinka Adebayo; former Deputy Governor of the Old Ondo State Chief Akin Omoboriowo; an educationist, Pa Ojo Falegan; and the first Ekiti man to be elected into the Federal House of Representatives, Pa Adepoju Komolafe; among others.

Osun Defender