OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR

February 3, 2025

His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,

Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Your Excellency,

APPEAL FOR YOUR INTERVENTION TO HALT THE RELOCATION OF 148 BATTALION ARMY BARRACKS FROM IPOTI EKITI TO IKERE EKITI: A CALL FOR JUSTICE, FAIRNESS AND EQUITY.

With profound respect, love and warm regards, we, the people of Ipoti-Ekiti and its environs, write to seek your urgent intervention regarding the proposed relocation of the 148 Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks from its gazetted and well-established location in Ipoti-Ekiti, where it has been for over a decade to Ikere-Ekiti, the hometown of the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. We make this appeal with full confidence in your enduring commitment to justice, fairness and national unity and we pray for your continued strength, wisdom and exemplary leadership.

The decision to establish the barracks in Ipoti-Ekiti was a well-considered strategic move, designed to serve as a security hub for key communities such as Otun-Ekiti, Ijero-Ekiti, Ikoro-Ekiti, Iloro-Ekiti, Odo-Owa-Ekiti, Aramoko-Ekiti and Ido-Ekiti, as well as other critical border areas. Its central location enables the swift deployment of military resources across Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo and Osun States, enhancing regional security. The proposed relocation to Ikere-Ekiti not only undermines this strategic objective but also raises concerns about the prioritization of personal interests over national security imperatives.

Your Excellency, Ipoti-Ekiti has a long-standing history of contributing to Nigeria’s military strength through distinguished sons like Late Colonel John Olympus Ayo-Ariyo, General Ola Oni, Air Vice Marshal Akin Dada, Rear Admiral Harry Olufemi Arogundade, Late Colonel James Abiodun Ayo-Ariyo and Navy Captain Caleb Omoniyi Olubolade, all retired. These patriotic individuals served Nigeria with excellence and dedication. Retaining the barracks in Ipoti-Ekiti is not only a tribute to their legacies but also a recognition of the town’s centrality and strategic importance to national defense and regional security.

We must highlight the adverse consequences of relocating the barracks from Ipoti-Ekiti. 

The town’s central location offers unmatched geographical advantages for military operations in the region. Removing the barracks would disrupt its role as a critical security hub. 

The barracks has had a significant positive impact on the local economy, with investments in real estate and ancillary services benefiting Ipoti-Ekiti and neighboring towns. Relocation would create an economic vacuum with far-reaching consequences for the area. 

The proximity of Ikere-Ekiti to the Nigerian Army Barracks in Akure makes this relocation redundant and an unnecessary duplication of resources.

This move appears to be a clear case of positional advantage, wherein COAS, General Oluyede is leveraging his influential postilion to advance his hometown’s interests, regardless of the detrimental effects on other affected communities.

Your Excellency, this unfortunate decision evokes painful memories of past attempts to marginalize Ipoti-Ekiti, including efforts to relocate the headquarters of Irede LCDA from the town in 2022, which were only stopped by public outcry. We cannot help but ask: what offense has Ipoti-Ekiti committed to warrant repeated exclusion from developmental opportunities?

While we strongly oppose the relocation of the 148 Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks, we emphasize that our opposition is not borne out of hostility toward the COAS or his hometown. Instead, it stems from a desire for equity and fairness. We recognize the COAS as a proud son of Ekiti State and suggest that, rather than displacing existing facilities, he uses his esteemed office to attract additional military institutions to his hometown or other parts of Ekiti State. For instance, he could facilitate the establishment of a Flying Wing of the Nigerian Army, a Technical Training Unit, a Military Nursing School or a Military ICT School. These establishments would significantly enhance Ekiti State’s contribution to national security while creating opportunities for residents across the state.

Your Excellency, it will interest you to know that the land where the 148 Battalion Barracks is situated has been duly acquired by the Nigerian Army, with substantial compensation paid to the original landowners. Furthermore, significant infrastructure has already been constructed and skeletal operations had commenced with Army officers stationed there before the sudden move to relocate the barracks. This underscores the investment and commitment already made towards establishing the barracks in Ipoti-Ekiti, making its relocation both wasteful and unjustifiable.

Therefore, we strongly and passionately appeal to you to halt this relocation process and ensure that the 148 Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks remains in Ipoti-Ekiti as originally gazetted. Such a decision would not only uphold justice and equity but also reinforce your administration’s commitment to fairness, prudence, national unity and inclusive governance.

Mr President, we trust in your dedication to the principles of fairness and justice and remain confident in your intervention to resolve this matter in favor of equity and progress. We thank you for your time and attention and pray for your continued health, wisdom and success as you lead our great nation.

Yours sincerely,

Olayiwola Enoch Oke, PhD., Chairman 

Mr. Adedapo Babajide, General Secretary 

Barr. Gbenga Awoyemi, Director of Publicity

CC:

HE, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, the Senate President;

HE, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, Ekiti State Governor;

Distinguished Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader (Representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District)

Distinguished Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Representing Ekiti South Senatorial District)

Distinguished Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Representing Ekiti North Senatorial District)