The Ekiti State Government, 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 .
