By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has debunked the claim made by a chief in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area, and traditional title holder of Ororin of Irorin Quarters, Chief Sunday Atolaju, that he has been granted express permission to wear a beaded crown.

To restore peace in Ilawe town, the government has ordered Chief Atolaju to broker a truce with the prescribed authority and Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, to forestall any chieftaincy tussle that could escalate into division, violence, and bloodshed.

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, made the clarification in Ado Ekiti on Monday, via a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, while mediating in a chieftaincy dispute between the Alawe-in-Council and Chief Atolaju.

The crisis stemmed from a petition signed by Oba Alabi, accusing Chief Atolaju, a chief priest, of parading himself around town with a beaded crown and a staff of office during a cultural festival — actions the monarch described as a flagrant violation of the Ekiti State Chiefs Law.

When the matter was to be decided on Monday, Chief Atolaju and his supporters were absent. However, the deputy governor maintained that at no time did the government grant the traditional chief any right or privilege to wear a beaded crown.

Mrs Afuye stated that only traditional rulers presiding over fully-fledged autonomous communities, and duly recognised by the government as statutory monarchs, can enjoy such rights and privileges.

“To the best of my knowledge, Governor Oyebanji has not granted autonomy to any town since assuming office on October 16, 2022, so no chief can claim that this government has given him the right to wear beaded crowns as he deems fit.

“Only statutory and recognized kings can enjoy such privilege according to our law,” she clarified.

On how to curtail the alleged excesses of the traditional chief, who was accused of arbitrarily wearing a beaded crown and thereby demeaning the Alawe’s supremacy and kingship, Mrs Afuye directed the embattled Atolaju to make peace with the monarch in the interest of the town.

“This government, led by Governor Oyebanji, will never impose any chief over a traditional ruler. We respect traditional rulers and the traditional institution. Chief Atolaju should go back to the Alawe and make peace with him.

“Oba Alabi is the head of the Ilawe kingdom and oversees cultural festivals in the town. Chief Atolaju must be ready to comply with whatever Kabiyesi wants. This is the best way to ensure peace and harmony in Ilawe Ekiti.” Mrs. Afuye said

In his submission, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon. Ojo Atibioke, said that by law, norms, and practice, chiefs are under the prescribed authorities of traditional rulers, and not vice versa, noting that Ekiti will not deviate from this age-long tradition.

The Commissioner, however, appealed to the community to handle the matter with utmost tact and civility, as all parties involved are indigenes and closely related.

Meanwhile, the monarch, represented by the Elemo of Oke-Emo, Chief Gbenga Agbona, requested government approval for the immediate suspension of the chief to serve as a deterrent to others.

Oba Alabi disclosed that the crisis involving the estranged chief and the Alawe-in-Council began in 2014, and efforts by stakeholders including government, security agencies, and elites to resolve it have been futile.

“We can’t continue to fight indefinitely. Our humble request is that the state government should grant us approval to suspend him, even if only for six months, so that he can learn to respect authority,” the monarch requested.

The Chairman of Ekiti Southwest Local Government, Hon. Richard Apolola, appealed to all interested parties to comply with the State’s Chiefs Law, describing it as the best way to resolve the matter head-on.

Last week, during a parley, the government reiterated its ban on any high chief or individual parading with a beaded crown in the state, stating that only recognized traditional rulers are empowered to use such paraphernalia.

However, at the meeting, Chief Atolaju presented evidence to support his claim that his forebears wore beaded crowns during their annual festival at Irorin Quarters, arguing that their culture allows him to enjoy such rights and privileges.