By Junaid Abdullahi
Ekiti State Government has told kingmakers and community leaders to always follow due process and laws on the deposition of traditional rulers and chiefs.
The state’s deputy governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, stated this when she intervened in the crisis between Oisajigan of Ejigan Quarters in Efon Alaaye, Efon local government area, Chief Kehinde Oladapo and the Alaaye of Efon and paramount ruler of the kingdom, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
The deputy governor had during the meeting rejected the deposition slammed on Oladapo who is also a kingmaker by Oba Aladejare.
The meeting followed the complaint lodged by Oladapo about his alleged brazen removal from his exalted stool by Alaaye over irreconcilable differences without following due process.
However, Alaaye, in the letter written to rationalise his action, accused the chief of disrespect by dressing in beaded crowns and other royal regalia and as well abdicated his duties in the palace, which he said were acts of insubordination.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her special assistant on media, Victor Ogunje, pleaded with the monarch to comply with the government’s position and reverse the Chief’s removal in the interest of peace, urging the embattled Chief to comply with the government directive that no traditional Chief should wear beaded crowns, caps and other traditional insignia exclusively reserved for royalty.
“The Ekiti State Chiefs’ Law is very clear and unambiguous, if you want to remove any traditional ruler or Chief, the government that appointed him must be aware. Nobody can remove any traditional Chief without the government knowing about it.
“On this basis, we reject the action and plead with Kabiyesi Alaaye to reverse it and reabsorb the Chief back to his cabinet in the interest of peace. The Chief had even displayed enough penitence by sending emissaries to Alaaye to plead on his behalf.
“Nobody can just depose a king or Chief without consulting the government. It is the government that can ratify this. Again, Governor Biodun Oyebanji wants peace in all the towns in Ekiti”.
