The traditional ruler of Iyin-Ekiti, Adeniyi Ajakaye, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State, has urged the youth to co-exist peacefully with one another for development to thrive in the town, state and country at large.
Oba Ajakaiye spoke on Sunday while playing host to members of the Special Six Form College, (SSFC) Ikare-Akoko Alumni Association, who visited his palace in Iyin-Ekiti.
The monarch said the call became imperative considering the importance of peace to societal development as well as the need to end youth restiveness.
The first-class traditional ruler said that peace was priceless and non-negotiable, hence the need for the youth to embrace one another and engage in different skill programmes in order to become self-reliant and contribute their quota to national development.
“I want to call on you and all youth to continue to live in peace and tolerate one another for development to thrive,” he said.
The monarch noted that the members, who were youth 43 years ago when they were together in the college, have turned out to be successful in their various fields of discipline.
“Peace is priceless and non-negotiable and it is a necessary requirement for the development of any society, I invite you not because I want to celebrate myself, but for you to see and learn what life is all about and what it means to be good, focused and take education as the basics.”
“I, therefore, want to appeal to you, the youth, to as much as possible do away with vices that are detrimental to the development of our town, state and country in general, but to uphold the positives. As far as SSFC is concerned, they shall continue to be relevant for as long as I remain in this palace,” he said.
He also urged the youth to continue to contribute their quota to nation-building, adding that no society would achieve meaningful development without the contribution of its youth.
Oba Ajakaiye urged the youth to be law-abiding, respect constituted authority and not to engage in any acts capable of destroying the existing peace in the area.
Earlier, the President of the association, Mr Olusola Adojutelegan, said that the visit was to celebrate the monarch on his assumption as the new Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, as one of them and particularly for promoting peace among his subjects and other Nigerians.
He assured the royal father of the association’s readiness to continue to initiate good policies and programmes that would have a direct bearing on the lives of its members and for the overall development of the society.
“I appeal to youth, especially sons and daughters of Iyin-Ekiti, to forget their ego, bury their hatchet and work for the progress of the town, the state and the country at large.
“Everybody must be prepared to contribute his or her quota to the development and for the betterment of their people.
“We are in a jet age, communities are developing everywhere; strangers won’t do it for us.
“We are to develop it by ourselves, so let us come together to achieve greatness before others can come in to expand it.
“Until you develop yourself, nobody will come and develop you, I, therefore, enjoined you to be good ambassadors of the community, abstain from crime, and not be used to foment trouble, but at all times, think of what you can do to develop yourself and your town, which will afterwards extent to the state and finally spread across the country.”
Also speaking, a member of the association, Chief Abiola Osho, eulogised the monarch and went back on memory lane as he attested to the monarch’s humility and peaceful disposition, saying he has been exuding the qualities of royalty since his youthful days.
He traced the history of the school to 1977 when it was established with the monarch as one of the pioneer students, before it metamorphosed into Ondo State College of Arts and Science, (OSCAS) in 1980.
The highlight of the event was the zoom conference where other members of the association got the opportunity to call and felicitate with the monarch from their respective countries of abode and the presentation of gifts like Royal stool, Holy Bible and other Royal items to the monarch and his Olori.
The programme was attended by all the Oluyin-in-council, the youth representatives, friends of the monarch from far and near, as well as other prominent sons and daughters of the town.
