Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led Ekiti State government has warned the monarchs and chiefs across 140 towns in the state against incessant rivalry.
The Ekiti government said such unhealthy and fierce actions may pose a serious threat to the state’s peaceful co-existence and stability
The government posited that monarchs are prescribed authorities in their domains, who should be venerated by chiefs to prevent the royalty from being desecrated.
The Deputy Governor represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, gave the warning, in Ado Ekiti, while brokering a truce, in a chieftaincy logjam between the Owa of Odo – Ayedun, Oba Ilesanmi Ajibade and Chief Olotin of the community, Folorunso Ajayi.
The government’s mediatory action was a sequel to a letter written by Owa and dated 31st March 2023, which was addressed to the Deputy Governor, accusing Olotin of trying to forcefully install some chiefs in his quarters in flagrant violation of the tradition and chieftaincy law.
The monarch said he felt threatened and embarrassed that his palace was not officially communicated through a letter as demanded by law and tradition, which forced him to take the action to forestall a breach of security.
Giving his verdict on the dispute during the interaction, after listening to the feuding parties, Mrs. Afuye, in a statement by his Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, directed Chief Olotin to write a formal letter to Owa to seek his consent before the installation for peace to reign.
Also, the Deputy Governor, pleaded with the monarch to acknowledge the letter upon receipt and allow for an abridgment of the number of days with which such a letter is to be written to accommodate the installation slated for April 7, 2023.
“Unhealthy rivalry between our monarchs and chiefs has become a recurrent decimal, which poses a serious threat to our communities. Governor Biodun Oyebanji as a peace lover won’t allow this to continue so that it won’t fester and snowball into anarchy.
“On this issue, I am of the opinion that a letter needed to be written to Owa by Chief Olotin for posterity. Sending kola nuts alone was outdated and out fashioned. Let us protect our tradition and also allow some modernity where necessary.
“Sending Kolanuts was the mode of communication in the olden days, but now, a lot of our chiefs can read and write. They are educated, so I believe Chief Olotin must document the titles of the chiefs he wanted to install and send to Kabiyesi to seek his consent to avert an unnecessary crisis.
“The monarch should also allow the installation to take place on April 7, 2023, as planned, even if the letter doesn’t meet the nine days’ notice required by tradition for peace to reign. The delegation that will take the letter to Kabiyesi must be led by a prominent Chief from Ere quarters as a mark of respect for royalty.
“Chieftaincy is now a product of documentation and that is why we have the Chieftaincy Declaration that was well documented for all the towns to guide our actions in dealing with chieftaincy issues”.
Debunking the claim that his quarters acted contrary to the law and tradition in his response, Chief Folorunso Ajayi, stated that he communicated to the palace contrary to the monarch’s claim.
Chief Ajayi added that he has no reason to take approval from Owa before installing his chiefs as claimed, saying he enjoys some level of autonomy going on the long-standing tradition and customs of the town.
“I communicated to the palace appropriately. I sent three Kolanuts to Kabiyesi based on the laid down tradition. I am not causing any confusion. If a letter is required by way of modernising our tradition, it is going to be through the collective decision and not through Owa’s unilateral decision. That was the bone of contention.
“With the government’s intervention today, we will abide by this decision to write a letter to Owa to notify him. I am for peace and development of my town. All I want is that tradition must be protected”, he said.
Suing for peace, a leader in the community, Chief Biodun Aluko, said the chieftaincy declaration of Ekiti State remains the potent regulatory instrument controlling the installation of chiefs, urging the town to adhere strictly to the government’s position to prevent unwarranted insurrection.
