The indigenes of Odo-Oro, a section of Iworoko-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government of Ekiti State, over the weekend, protested to demand autonomy.
The protesters, carrying placards, held a procession in the community to express their displeasure about the alleged relegation of Arinjale title to a mere chieftaincy status, instead of a full-fledged monarch and denial of the town of autonomy.
The indigenes, who are descendants of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, said failure to grant them autonomy by successive governments, despite being the first settlers, had caused a setback in terms of development and enjoying the dividends of democracy.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Prince Julius Babalola said granting autonomy to Arinjale of Odo-Oro and the community was overdue.
He said the Intelligence Report of 1933, Ondo State Chieftaincy Review Commission of 1978 and a book written by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, rated Arinjale as a full-fledged monarch, wondering why the title was being relegated by the government.
Babalola said Arinjale of Odo-Oro settled in Iworoko-Ekiti since 1891, with a well-established royal dynasty before being joined in 1932 by Alaworoko, who now superintends over the community as the only recognised king.
He regretted how the community was politically manipulated out of recognition and denied autonomy by the Justices Silas Oyewole and Jide Aladejana-led chieftaincy review commissions of 2014 and 2020.
“Our progenitor, Gberubioya, a prince from Ado-Ekiti, came to this place in 1891 with his crown and people. We didn’t meet anybody here. Alaworoko came from Ila Orangun in Osun State to join us 41 years after.”
Babalola stressed that during the proceedings of the old Ondo State Chieftaincy Review Commission of 1978, the then Alaworoko confessed before panelists that there were two broad sections at Iworoko, but pleaded that he wanted the town to remain united, instead of being divided.
“Despite the evidence of our established monarchy here, the Justices Silas Oyewole and Jide Aladejana-led commissions of 2014 and 2020 said the memoranda we submitted to grant us autonomy lacked merit.
“Autonomy is part of democracy dividends. We have always been supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) government and we have a rich history supporting our case. So, we appeal to Governor Kayode Fayemi to grant our request before leaving office on October 15, 2022,” he said.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
