A new group of Ekiti artisans, scholars and professionals have met in Lagos State with a vow to mobilise the people to uphold the age-long values of truth and integrity once associated with the people.
The inaugural meeting drew participants from different professional groups from all local governments of Ekiti State.
The Ekiti People United Congress said the socio-political and economic transformation of Ekiti States depends solely on integrity, honesty and the greatest values of humanity imbibed by the people and the few they have chosen to lead them.
A statement signed by Omolade Faluyi after the meeting said: “We are here to make history.
“We are committed to a new Ekiti with the slogan: ‘Lift Ekiti Beyond the Sky.’
“The focal point is the people and the agenda is to build a new mind-set, a new orientation that honours hardwork, dignity of labour, integrity and trust.”
The EPUC said Ekiti people have to be united along the Lowest Common Factor of honour in order for prosperity to flourish, adding that Ekiti State in the past was recognised as the bedrock of Yoruba principles of good conscience, courage and integrity which have diminished over the years.
The EPUC said it noted with satisfaction the recent report by the Subnational Audit Efficacy that rated Ekiti as number one in transparency, accountability and good governance, adding that it shows clearly the possibility of Ekiti leading Nigeria in all aspects of economic and political endeavours driven by truth and good conscience.
“What creates wealth and prosperity of the people is not money or resources but the integrity and values shared by majority of the people and those who manage public institutions and the available resources,” the EPUC said.
According to the new group, it has the responsibility to educate, mobilise and energise the people in all the 142 towns and villages to uphold integrity and the dignity of man founded on the time tested reputation of Ekiti values, adding that the decline in values automatically leads to corruption, ineptitude, mismanagement which breeds poverty and crime in low and high places.
The group said the people are never averse to genuine and selfless education and public enlightenment that would lead to a new set of thinking and orientation that would produce the greatest happiness for the highest number of people.
It said: “EPUC will have selfless representatives in all the 177 wards across the state who will be saddled with the responsibility of constructive engagement with the people, public enlightenment campaign and mass reorientation through available social, cultural and faith-based platforms for a greater Ekiti for the benefit of mankind and to the glory of God.
“Our target is to have 250,000 members and volunteers before the end of the year who are committed to promoting the greatest values in private and public lives of our people. This is the only way good governance can triumph with democracy deepened and people’s inclusion in their own social, political and economic affairs guaranteed.”
The group said Ekiti in the past had produced political actors that in the first place should never hold public offices, but emerged to control the destiny of the people due to a new sociology that places material gains beyond the dignity of man.
EPUC said it recognises the good work and contributions of some past and present leaders and that the legacies of such leaders the people ought to honour, uphold and defend.
EPUC said it is not affiliated to any political party but will not hesitate to guide the people on best practices and to avoid the Ekiti leadership space being taken over by dregs and social misfits.
It said: “We recognise the enormity of the work at hand. We are prepared and determined to change the atmosphere in a revolutionary manner that will enable the people to set the best minimum standard of excellence in every sphere of life in Ekiti State.”
The meeting, presided over by multiple award winning journalist, Adewale Adeoye, had other attendees, including Dr. Dare Ajayi; Kunle Ajisafe of the Nigerian Labour Congress; former General Secretary, Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, David Ajetumobi; Adebola Ologun of South West Professionals; Dr. Deji Abayomi, former President, Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners Association of Nigeria; Abiodun Abe, former member of the Lagos State Trust Fund; Popoola Ajayi, General Secretary, Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, a coalition of over 100 pan-Yoruba groups President; Taiwo Adeleye, formerly of the News Agency of Nigeria; President of Agbekoya Solidarity, Kunle Oshodi, amongst many others.
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Other promoters include Tunde Adeleke, Olaseni Osameyan, Ekiti professionals in Diaspora and three other traditional rulers in Ekiti State.
Two indigenes of Ekiti working with foreign missions in Nigeria also attended the historic event.
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