The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has said that those calling for secession are doing so out of frustration.

He said this amid calls by some quarters for the breakaway of the South-West region from Nigeria and the establishment of Yoruba nation.

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Fayemi said such agitation is expected when there are stress and laxity in society.

The Governor said, “Frankly, when you have stress and laxity in society, you’re bound to find a whole range of responses. Some rational, some irrational, some that speak to the fears of the people, some opportunistic and harebrained. There’s no question that some of the reactions we’ve seen will fall into all of those categories.”

He expressed optimism that the country will triumph and survive the challenges it is currently faced with.

He said the time has come for the devolution of power and that the country needs to adopt other measures at managing its diversity.

“I have gone on record to say that I have unfailing optimism that in spite of all our challenges, this country will triumph and we’ll survive current challenges. We as leaders must focus on the goal of protecting lives and property, and focus on safety and security as the primary responsibility that we have,” Fayemi said.

“The people who are talking about secession frankly, some of them are doing it out of frustration. I don’t think that’s the solution to the Nigerian predicament right now.

“In matters of economic development, we may need to begin to look at other ways of managing diversity and difference in our country and that devolution of power is an idea whose time has come.”

This comes a day after his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, dissociated his state from the calls for the secession of the South-West from Nigeria.

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