Fayose declares Ogoga as Ikere monarch

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has laid to rest the chieftaincy dispute, which has nearly paralysed the peace of the ancient town of Ikere-Ekiti in the recent times, with his declaration at the weekend that the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu is the only recognized monarch in the community

He ordered the Olukere of Ikere, Ganiyu Obasoyin to stop appearing in the monarch’s apparel or crown.

The Olukere according to the governor and traditional chiefs in the town remains the high priest of the town and cannot parade himself as a monarch.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti when Ogoga paid him a courtesy call in his office, Fayose described the chieftaincy crisis in the town as unnecessary.

He said: “For me, the issues in Ikere, about the obaship tussle are very clear, I’m not saying this because you are here or your chiefs are here. There are no two obas in Ikere, there is only one oba and the oba is Ogoga. I only recognised the Ogoga of Ikere.

“Olukere has been trying to be a judge in his own matter. In a civilised society, if not that we are trying to be civil and allow peace to reign, we would have been in court now because that is anarchy.”

The governor said all existing laws, documents and official gazettes in the state, starting from the old Western Region, only recognised the Ogoga as the traditional ruler of Ikere-Ekiti.

He added that while he was not opposed to the agitation by Obasoyin, the manner the Olukere went about it was faulty.

“The issue of obaship in Ikere is clear, it is the position of the law‎ that we followed. There are no two obas in Ikere and the only recognised stool is the Ogoga‎, I have discharged my duties and I have no power to do more than that. The Morgan Commission and others that followed, which looked into chieftaincy matters in the whole of the old Western Region established that fact.

“If anybody has another historical claim to enforce, follow due process and produce all legal matters.

“What the Olukere is trying to do is to be a judge in his own matter.‎ I am not against his agitation, but the due process must be followed and nobody must take the law into his own hands.

“Our father, Baba Bamidele Olumilua, was the governor of the old Ondo State of which Ikere and Ekiti State as a whole were part of and he hails from Ikere, why didn’t he recognise Olukere as a stool? ‎I told Baba Olumilua when he led a delegation here that nobody should feel he is above the law and we are only respecting Baba Olumilua as we know what we can do as a government.

“I urge the Ogoga to accommodate all and love everybody. This administration is for the development of Ekiti State and we are trying all efforts to improve on the living standard of the people. Within available resources, we will look into your requests,” he said.