By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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Ekiti State Government at the weekend  warned community leader or honorary chief who parades himself in the regalia of an Oba will be arrested and prosecuted by the state government.

The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who gave the warning said the move is to preserve the sanctity of the traditional institution and to curb unauthorized use of crowns and beaded walking sticks by palace chiefs in some communities in the state.

The Deputy Governor handed down the warning during a peace meeting with the Olohan of Erijiyan Ekiti, Oba Adegoroye Omoseebi, and interest groups in the over alleged threat to law and order.

The state government summoned the peace meeting following a petition from  the monarch that one of his chiefs, the Oba Odo of Erijiyan, Chief Boluwaji Adewumi, has been parading himself with the paraphernalia of a monarch including the use of crown and beaded stick within and outside the state.

Speaking after he was provided photographs of Adewumi with a crown on his head and holding a beaded walking stick, the Deputy Governor said he would have ordered the immediate arrest of the chief but had to give him a last warning and an opportunity to reconcile with the Olohan.

Otunba Egbeyemi said Adewumi’s action was a clear violation of the State Chiefs Law by using the paraphernalia of a monarch which attracts a sentence of six months imprisonment upon conviction.

The Deputy Governor said cases of unauthorized use of crowns and beaded walking sticks have been reported to the state government in recent past saying such acts are capable of causing chaos and anarchy in the state.

He urged the community to effect the arrest of Adewumi through the help of security agencies anywhere he is seen wearing a crown or using a beaded walking stick preparatory to his prosecution in court.

The Deputy Governor, however, used the opportunity to warn chiefs in communities across the state to desist from wearing crowns and using beaded sticks saying only Obas have the right to use such paraphernalia of office.

Speaking earlier, Oba Omoseebi had accused Adewumi of sponsoring confusion and violence in the town which necessitated petitions to the police and the state government.

The monarch alleged that Adewumi has constituted himself to a threat to residents of Erijiyan noting that the palace had to report the incident to the government to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Adewumi also accused the monarch of making attempts on his life. He added that he only wears crown once in a year during a worship of a river deity in the town.

He assured the Deputy Governor of his readiness to comply with the order and reconcile with the Oba and other chiefs in the community in the interest of peace.