Oba Olatunde Olusola of Imojo-Ekiti, one of the two Ekiti monarchs killed by bandits on Monday, was on track to become a professor within a year before his untimely death.
The Second-in-Command to the Onimojo, the Elejira of Imojo, Chief Ayodele Dada, disclosed this in a meeting between Ekiti State officials and elders of the community.
On Monday, gunmen ambushed and killed the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, along with Oba Olatunde.
Meanwhile, the Alara of Ara Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, managed to escape.
“We will sorely miss the late Kabiyesi. But in his memory, we appeal to the state government to complete the Imojo Palace project which he began so that we can name it after him to immortalise him.
“I don’t think it would be up to a year for Kabiesi to become a professor,” the chief said.
Dada regarded the monarch’s killing as agonising, stating that the late traditional leader launched several community development initiatives.
He urged the government to step up efforts to provide security for the state’s citizens, expressing regret over the recent spate of kidnapping incidents in the area.
Reports of kidnappings are becoming increasingly frequent across various parts of the nation.
Also in Ekiti, four staff members and five students from the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, were abducted on Monday.
A N100m ransom has been requested by their kidnappers to free the nine hostages.
At the meeting, the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, expressed his complete trust in the security services to find those responsible for the crime against the traditional institution in Ekiti.
He said the government will not stop working to ensure public safety.