THERE was drama in Igede Ekiti, the
headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local
Government Area in Ekiti State, on Sunday
after a teacher (name withheld) stole a
pot of amala (yam flour meal) from a
neighbour’s flat.
The incident, which happened at Odogede
area of the town at about 1.30pm, caused
a stir among the locals who sympathised
with the teacher, who works at Ekiti
Baptist High School.
It was gathered yesterday that the
incident happened in a building made up
of three flats.
A source, who lived within the vicinity
where the incident happened, said: “The
incident happened at about 1.30pm on
Sunday when majority of the residents had
arrived from their churches and the
teacher could not go to church because of
the prevailing condition.
“The neighbour on arrival at home
prepared an amala, but unknown to her,
the teacher had been watching and
bidding her time when the owner of the
food would leave the kitchen before she
struck.
“As the woman preparing the food left the
kitchen, the teacher went there and stole
the pot of amala and carried it to her
room.
“But owner of the food screamed and was
startled to find the teacher and her two
children eating the amala with palm oil.
“The owner of the food, apparently
touched by the action of the teacher, went
back to her apartment and brought soup
for the teacher and her children to eat to
satisfaction.”
The Nation also gathered that many civil
servants have relocated to their villages
to carry out farming because of the
uncertainty surrounding the time they
would be paid.
Another source said: “Many of my
colleagues had relocated to their villages
and hometown to till the land and
cultivate crops to keep body and soul
together.
“You know this industrial action is making
us to devise means to survive, you know
life is easier in rural locations and many
of them have planted crops like maize,
which can be harvested within three
months.
“Others are also cultivating cash crops as
a fall back option anytime retirement
comes. We just have to survive because
this is not the best of times for civil
servants.
“I also know others who are now learning
trades like fashion designing,
photography, barbing, decoration, cake
making and other crafts.
“Those who combine business with
government work and those who are
clerics now have more time to practise
their vocations.”
Also yesterday, it was discovered that
non-payment of salaries has led to the
reduction of crowd at Automated Teller
Machine (ATM) points in banks in Ado
Ekiti.
A bank worker, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said the situation could not be
unconnected with non-payment of
salaries.
He said: “Before now, some of our
customers did not bother to ask for ATM
cards, even including students. Some said
it was easy to collect money through the
counter than ATM, because of the long
queue. But the situation suddenly
changed. The request for ATM cards had
increased.
“I want to confirm to you that the civil
servants are the highest customers any
bank can have in Ekiti and since their
salaries are not being paid, patronage in
terms of lodgments and withdrawals have
reduced considerably.”
