By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government has warned that it would not tolerate any chaos and anarchy in Ilamo-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area over the chieftaincy dispute on the position of Eleeshe of Ulara Quarters.
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who gave the warning recently during a peace meeting with stakeholders from the community, urged them to toe the line of peace and never involve themselves in acts that could lead to breakdown of law and order.
According to a statement made available to Orient Daily by the Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media and Publicity, Odunayo Ogunmola, the emergency peace meeting was called to douse the tension generated by the purported appointment and installation of another Eleeshe of Ulara Quarters by the Alamo, Oba Adebayo Awoseyila.
The Deputy Governor affirmed that the only Eleeshe recognized by the state government is the current occupant of the seat, Chief Ezekiel Olanipekun. He condemned the purported installation of one Olajiire Olayode by Oba Awoseyila, saying it violated the State Chiefs Law.
Egbeyemi also said the action ran contrary to the government’s earlier directive that parties in the dispute should maintain status quo and not resort to self-help pending the resolution of the matter which is before the court of law.
Following submissions from the parties, the Deputy Governor subsequently referred the matter to a committee of the State Council of Traditional Rulers which is expected to turn in its report to guide the state government on the resolution of the crisis.
He cautioned Chief Olanipekun against resort to violence advising him to go back home and join hands with the Alamo since his application for autonomy did not succeed saying “Chief Olanipekun is not an Oba but a chief under Alamo.”
Egbeyemi also vowed that no perpetrator of violence in the town would go unpunished as government was ready to unleash the full wrath of the law on troublemakers. He further cautioned traditional chiefs demanding autonomy for their quarters to toe the line of peace and not take the laws into their hands in pursuit of their bid.
While noting that the demand for autonomy was not against the law, the Deputy Governor counseled that nobody should hide under such demand to engage in any unlawful activity that would undermine peaceful coexistence.
According to him, Governor Kayode Fayemi wants peace and tranquility to prevail in all communities to facilitate sustainable development and fulfillment of his administration’s development agenda.
Chief Olanipekun had earlier alleged that the Alamo had installed Olayode as the Eleeshe contrary to the directives of the state government and in defiance of the court injunction.
He claimed that some youths of the community were spoiling for a showdown but the intervention of security agencies prevented a breakdown of law and order.
However, Oba Awoseyila denied ever appointing another Eleeshe but said he had intention to do so because Chief Olanipekun has failed to perform his traditional duties despite the government’s order that he should maintain peace and regularly attend palace meetings.
The monarch accused the chief of recalcitrant behaviour and sponsoring attacks on some individuals and destruction of palace property.