By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti
There is tension in the three major towns in Ekiti South-west local government area of Ekiti state over a sit-tight allegation levelled against the Ologotun of Ogotun, Oba Samuel Oyebade, over chairmanship of traditional council.
The Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Adebanji Alabi and the Arajaka of Igbara Odo, Oba Edward Jayeola were protesting the alleged monopoly established by Ologotun as the chairman since 1997 against the extant rule that gave room for rotation among the three monarchs.
Blueprint gathered that the development led to protest at the council headquarters in Ilawe Ekiti yesterday by selected chiefs from Ilawe and Igbara Odo, accusing Oba Oyebade of perpetuating himself as the permanent chairman of traditional council against the extant rules.
The protest letter delivered to the Council Chairman, Mr. Lanre Omolase, was jointly read by Chief Gbenga Agbona, the Elemo of Oke Emo, Ilawe Ekiti, and Chief Banji Olowofela, the Asamo of Igbara Odo.
The letter read: “The instrument creating the council allowed for rotation among the Oba. It is on record that both the Arajaka and Alawe had at one time ruled as the Chairman of traditional council and the two monarchs are now calling on Ologotun to step aside, but he has remained adamant since December 2016 when his tenure expired.
“That we support the demand of our oba that the chairmanship position should be rotated. We also support that the two monarchs should not attend any meeting where Ologotun will preside as chairman and that we support the panel set up by the governor to address the issue and we pass a vote of confidence in the leadership of Governor Ayodele Fayose.”
Omolase, who said the matter would be handled by Governor Ayodele Fayose, said a panel headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, had been constituted to handle the matter.
“I will not want this protest to be hijacked; we belong to the same family. Nothing can be more logical than the steps taken by Governor Fayose, so let us await the outcome of the report and refrain from taking laws into our hands,” he said.