Ekiti committee receives 71 requests for new councils

Ado-Ekiti- The committee constituted by the Ekiti Government on creation of new local governments has  received 71 requests.

The chairman of the committee,  retired Justice Akin Ajakaiye, said this at a news conference on Monday in Ado- Ekiti,

 He said his committee would begin work immediately by treating all the memoranda received from the communities.

 "We are not saying the figure is high or low,
but all we can assure all at this stage is that we shall be fair and just to the various communities.

"We shall do what is right by attending to every memorandum on their merit;  those who meet our criteria shall be recommended to the government for action," he said.

The retired judge said the committee would recommend a group of communities for local government status based on  land mass, contiguity, consensus on  where to site the headquarters, revenue base and  homogeneity.

He denied rumours that the committee was being used by the state government to advance its course  ahead of the June 21 governorship election in the state.

“As you can see me, I am a credible person by all standards; nobody has ever used me in such a manner even when I was not a judge.

"I am not a politician and I don’t pray to be one someday. I think the same goes with my members.

"We are already achievers in our various fields. All we are doing is service to the people," he said.