…..Mediates in Odo- Ora Crisis
By Gbenga Ojikutu
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has condemned alleged attempt being made by some aggrieved individuals in Odo-Ora Ekiti, in Ido/ Osi Local Government Area to dethrone the community’s Traditional Ruler and Obalemo, Oba Samuel Akinola Adeyemo.
The government also denied a publication credited to Chief Jide Ajewole, who holds the traditional title of Oloja Odo to the effect that the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief ( Mrs) Monisade Afuye, directed the holding of a peace meeting outside the palace to decide the monarch’s fate on the deposition threat.
The Deputy Governor made the clarification, on Wednesday, while mediating in the crisis between Oba Adeyemo and a group of elites, where she stoutly denied a publication, claiming that she ordered the holding of a meeting outside the palace in the community.
The peace parley was convened by Mrs Afuye to hear the petition written by Oba Adeyemo against Chief Ajewole, the second in command in chieftaincy hierarchy and some elites for allegedly fueling crisis and plotting to depose him.
In the petition, Obalemo alleged the Chief of dereliction of duties, insubordination, harassment, forming factional government and stoking crisis by inciting the elites and youth against the traditional authority, among others.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, stressed that at no time did she take any action, either personally or by proxy to suggest that she was backing the proponents of dethronement of the monarch in the town.
Mrs Afuye posited that the government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji holds the traditional rulers in high regards and won’t exhibit any action to demean or denigrate their status.
“At no time did I instruct anyone to hold any meeting outside the palace to determine the fate of our royal father. This government is a peace maker and not the one that will stoke the ember of discord. We are not party to any attempt to remove the monarch.
“Let me also tell you that you have no power to remove the monarch, only the government can do that. Go and cooperate with Oba Adeyemo to develop your town. You can’t witness any progress when you start staging wars against your traditional ruler”.
The Deputy Governor ordered the embattled Chief to mend fences with the monarch in the interest of peace in the community, saying: “I give you six months to reunite with the palace. You can’t be holding a factional government when there is a monarch and if you fail to do this, there will be consequences”.
Mrs Afuye charged the elites in the town, led by the former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Prof Olawuni Ajaja to rally support for the monarch and resolve all the crisis in the community, rather than taking sides.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, directed the monarch to pay all the outstanding allowances of the embattled Chief to lay a solid foundation for the initiation of a peace meeting to tackle the lingering row.
In his submission, Chief Ilesanmi, denied all the accusations, saying he was opposing the king on the premise of alleged intention to downgrade him to number three in the chieftaincy hierarchical order of the town.
Chief Ajewole also denied issuance of any statement, where he calmed that the Ekiti State Deputy Governor ordered the holding of a meeting to decide the monarch’s fate, describing this as handiwork of evil doers.
He maintained that he was not being propelled by the elites to destabilise the community or holding a parallel government as being claimed by the monarch, promising to reunite with the palace if Obalemo spreads a true olive branch to him.
Commending the government, the monarch, said the clarifications and intervention will fast track speedy resolution of the tussle , saying all the suggestions propounded by the Deputy Governor for expeditious resolution of the matter shall be considered in due course.
