Leaders petition IGP as chieftaincy crisis rages in Ekiti community

• Council of chiefs proscribes Olukere title
The Oba Adu Adejimi Alagbado-led Ogoga-in-Council in Ikere kingdom of Ekiti State has written the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over alleged breach of peace by one Chief Ganiu Obasoyin.

The body of high chiefs also proscribed the title of Olukere held by Obasoyin.

The latter is currently in prison custody for allegedly murdering one Femi Kolade in a reprisal last Christmas.

It was gathered that Obasoyin allegedly led a team of his loyalists and some men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to a location in Ado Ekiti for the attack on some suspected thugs who reportedly invaded his new hotel and destroyed some facilities therein.

During the assault, one Kolade, a toilet attendant in Fayose market in Ado Ekiti, was allegedly stabbed to death.

The Secretary to the Ogoga-in Council and Odofin of Ikere Ekiti, Chief James Alonge, who led other titleholders to address newsmen yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, decried the lukewarm attitude of the police to probe and try the Olukere amid several petitions to the state police commissioner.

Announcing the proscription of the title, Alonge, who read the communiqué to newsmen at the palace, said Olukere was never a chieftaincy in Ikere land. He recalled that Obasoyin’s identity had been Oloje, a ‘masquerade’ title by the Ogoga to a chief whose duty was to appease one of the gods, Olosunta.

Alleging that Obasoyin had broken the law and traditions of the community, the Odolofin said: “This is an individual with no evidence of official recognition or appointment.

” I am by the grace of God the Oba, King of Ikere duly elected by kingmakers through our processes and given the staff of office and Certificate of Appointment by the Ekiti State government. I do not understand the platform upon which preferential treatment is accorded Obasoyin, a mere priest, while the police continue to undermine my authority.”

However, the younger brother of the deceased and graduate of Ekiti State University, Ajibola Kolade, has dismissed rumours linking his sibling’s death to a fight that broke out between two groups of armed robbers. He stated that his late relative was neither a robber nor a political thug.

Also yesterday, the sympahisers of the Olukere took to the streets to demand the unconditional release of the traditional ruler who has been in custody since December 27, 2017.
The peaceful protest took off from the palace of Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin located on the Odo-Oja area of the town.

The protesters, who were mostly, traditional chiefs, community leaders, aged men and women, distanced the monarch from the killing, describing the allegation as a political move to dent his image.