The Biodun Oyebanji-led government in Ekiti State has appealed to citizens to stop the sordid trend of disrespecting their traditional rulers over scrambling for chieftaincy titles, saying their opinions count and weighty on any issue relating to customs and tradition.
The government condemned the recurrent abysmal trends of subjects debasing their traditional rulers for intervening in any raging chieftaincy tussles in their towns in a bid to avert crisis and bloodshed.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the warning in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, while mediating in the crisis triggered by the recommendation of Alawe-in-council, led by Oba Ajibade Alabi that Sajowa chieftaincy title in the community be rotated among component families.
The parley was convened by the Deputy Governor, following a petition written by Sajowa family, raising eyebrow over Alawe-in-Council’s position that the title be rotated with Obanla lineage, another branch of Sajowa’s genealogical line to unify the family.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, advised interested citizens, especially families, to always defer to their monarchs and rever their opinions as custodians of tradition in resolving chieftaincy crisis before resorting to other options.
After listening to the parties in the case, Mrs Afuye said: “I am still going to direct you to Alawe, Oba Ajibade Alabi in this matter. Let me say that his voice really count because he is the prescribed authority and the custodian of the tradition in Ilawe Ekiti.
“But with histories you had rendered, I have been able to establish that Obanla and Sajowa are from the same family. I advise that you continue to do things in love and unity as you have always done.
“I don’t think a lesser chieftaincy position should make you hate yourselves or allow division in this family. I have also seen that the Alawe in Council recommended in its report that the position of Sajowa be rotated , so that you can all have a sense of belonging in the family.
“I want to appeal to our citizens to refrain from this habit of disrespecting their monarchs, who are the custodians of tradition when chieftaincy matter arises. We must always listen to them on issue of this nature”.
However, the Deputy Governor, appealed to Oba Alabi to consider the request made by Sajowa family that the chieftaincy title be upgraded to assume a membership of Alawe-in-Council.
Speaking on behalf of the Alawe’s delegation, the Elemo of Oke- Emo, Chief Gbenga Agbona, thanked the state government for acting swiftly on the matter, clarifying that Alawe only intervened in the matter to stem the tide of crisis in the family.
Chief Agbona added that Sajowa is a lesser Chief in the kingdom that attracts little attention, and that the monarch couldn’t have gone out of his ways to pervert justice in a matter involving such a lowly rated title.
Shedding light on how the monarch made spirited efforts to prevent the matter from festering, Chief Agbona, said the monarch only acted based on the recommendations contained in the report of the committee set up by the town to mediate in the Chieftaincy crisis.
Agbona promised that the monarch will handle the issue of rotation of the title dispassionately, and also consider the request for the elevation of Sajowa title to Alawe-in-Council as directed by the Deputy Governor using the instrument of tradition.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
