The Ekiti State Government has settled the chieftaincy
crisis brewing between the Owa of Odo- Ayedun, Oba Solomon Ilesanmi Ajibade and
some chiefs over modalities being adopted for
the installation of traditional Chiefs in the community.
While mediating in
the crisis on Thursday, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade
Afuye, pleaded with the parties to handle the matter with caution and think
more of how to maintain peace in the town.
The monarch and the chiefs were embroiled in tussle over the
mode of installation of Chiefs in the two quarters of Odo and Emila, with the
aggrieved chiefs accusing the monarch of hijacking their powers and trying to
make himself the sole authority that can perform such duty in the town.
The Chiefs contended that each of the quarter heads are
traditionally empowered to install their chiefs, saying they only need to issue
notice of installation to the monarch as a mark of respect to his palace.
Resolving the matter, Mrs Afuye, after listening to all
parties, directed the monarch to convene an enlarged peace meeting of the town over the matter, so
that the issue of factional crisis can be tackled for the community to chart a
new way for its development.
Mrs Afuye told the monarch to stop installing chiefs where
he has no power to do so in line with culture and tradition, adding that those
already installed by the monarch must return to their quarters to perform all
the necessary traditions.
She also warned the quarter heads against issuing emergency
notice to the monarch, while planning to install a new Chief as a mark of
respect for royalty.
The Deputy Governor also ordered the monarch to immediately
release the withheld monthly stipends due to the Chiefs, who had abstained from
attending palace meetings, adding that whoever refuses to attend the statutory
palace meeting shouldn't be paid.
Mrs Afuye said the crisis should be settled among the chiefs
and elites to prevent unnecessary divisions, bad blood and bloodshed that would
heat up the polity and contravenes the gospel of peace being preached by Governor Oyebanji across the state.
In his submission, Oba Ajibade appreciated the government
for intervening the matter, urging all the parties to adhere strictly to the
verdict passed by the Deputy Governor for the town to be in peace.
The monarch assured the government that he would champion a
peace meeting that would unite the community and bring radical development to
the town.
Oba Ajibade appealed to the aggrieved chiefs to forget the past and think more about the future of the community and propagate those things that can promote unity in the town.
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