The Ekiti State Government has appealed to the Traditional Rulers to join the government to enforce full compliance of citizens with the monthly Environmental Sanitation exercise.
The state government said the efforts of monarchs are relevant in the implementation of the Environment Law and other policies that are strategically formulated to promote the good health and wellness of citizens.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, said this on Saturday, at the palace of Arajaka of Igbara-Odo Ekiti, Oba Edward Jayeola, while monitoring the monthly environmental sanitation in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area.
Afuye, according to a statement by her Media Assistant, Victor Ogunje, specifically frowned at the large turnout of traders at the Oja Oba Market in Igbara- Odo Ekiti around 8.30am, when the environmental sanitation was fully ongoing.
The Deputy Governor said such conduct was a flagrant violation of the Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Law that mandates all citizens to observe cleanliness every last Saturday of the month between 8am and 10am, except there is a waiver from the government.
She appealed to all monarchs in the state to join the local governments in sensitising the residents on the expediency of a monthly programme geared towards preventing the outbreak of contagious diseases in the state.
Addressing the monarch, Afuye, said: “Kabiyesi, what I have seen in the market here in Igbara Odo today was wrong and the government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji frowns at such conduct.
“How can people be selling in the market during environment sanitation exercises in such a large number? Health is wealth and our people must learn how to place high priority on their health and this starts with the maintenance of environmental cleanliness and hygiene.
“This programme is to make sure that our citizens don’t spend money that is meant to develop themselves on opportunistic diseases. If you clean your environment, you are doing yourself a great deal of favour.
“I want to appeal that this kind of scenario shouldn’t repeat itself next month. Our people must be carefully and rightly guided on how to comply with laws. We have nothing to lose if we stay at home between 7-10am to clean our surroundings”.
Responding, Oba Jayeola applauded Governor Oyebanji’s government for its love for the citizens, assuring that such conduct will not repeat itself in the next episode of the exercise.
“Let me assure your Excellency that this will not repeat itself next month because this programme is for our own benefit.
During the Deputy Governor’s visit to Ilawe, the headquarters of the council, she commended the residents for fully complying with the exercise and for maintaining environmental cleanliness.
She lauded the efforts of the Council Chairman, Richard Apolola for his mobilisation strides leading to the good conduct exhibited by the residents, urging the residents to sustain such ethical standards in the subsequent editions.
Apolola assured the government that the high compliance witnessed in Ilawe Ekiti will be replicated in other towns in the council during the next editions.
