Ikere monarch, chiefs dare gov, oppose appointment of new king

Allege Ekiti breaches law, disrespects judiciary

The monarch of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu and the chiefs in the community have declared as null and void the recognition granted by Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to Olukere of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, as a traditional ruler, describing the alleged “balkanisation” of the town as sacrilegious and wicked.

The Council, chaired by Sapetu of Oke-Ikere, Chief Olufemi Babatola, bluntly rejected the autonomy granted Odo-Oja, a section of Ikere-Ekiti and delineated territory to be presided over by a new Oba.

The governor had premised his recognition of the new king on the implementation of the White Paper of the chieftaincy review commission led by Justice Babajide Aladejana, which found merit in the application of the Odo-Oja community of Ikere-Ekiti as an autonomous town.

According to a statement signed last week Friday by the Executive Secretary of the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Adegboyega Morakinyo, the Odo-Oja community of Ikere-Ekiti submitted a memorandum to the commission, which recommended it as an independent town and Olukere as its Oba.

But a statement signed by 16 members of the Council of Chiefs of Ikere-Ekiti, yesterday, said the governor’s action buttressed the fact that he was being allegedly vindictive for losing the 2018 governorship election in Ikere Local Council to an indigene of the town and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Eleka.

They stated that the alleged evil machination by the government to ruin Ikere’s traditions, culture and customs as bequeathed to them by the founders of the land and their forefathers would not endure.

The chiefs said that the Odo-Oja where Fayemi awarded autonomy to be presided over by Olukere is being headed by Chief Ologotun for ages, saying that it was a sacrilege, aberration and absurdity for that axis to be constituted into a town.