…says violators of state chiefs law’II be punished

By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti State Government has reiterated its ban on high chiefs and individuals adorning beaded crowns in the state is still in force, stressing that only recognised traditional rulers are empowered to use such paraphernalia.

The government said it has become worrisome how some high chiefs and individuals seeking autonomy often resort to the use of beaded crown, even when their requests have not been granted, restating that anyone found parading himself as a king shall face stringent punitive action.

The state Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, issued the warning while presiding over a lingering chieftaincy dispute between the Head of Irorin Quarters, Ilawe Ekiti, High Chief Sunday Olu Atolaju and the Alawe- in-Council.

Mrs. Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, explained that the practice, where a chief parades himself as a king, was a flagrant violation of the Ekiti State Chiefs Law.

The Ekiti number two citizen warned chiefs and individuals against wearing crowns all in the name of observing monthly or yearly cultural practices.

She said: “The present administration holds Ekiti tradition and traditional institution in high esteem and would not allow any act or action that could breed cultural disunity, violence or rewrite the Yoruba cultural heritage.  “Communities seeking autonomy should wait until government pronounces them autonomous and no individual or group of people have the power to install a chief or king without the approval of government.

“The activities of Ifa priests and Aworos in Ekiti should always be subject to the approval of prescribed authority in their domains and operate within the laws and principles of their tradition”.

The deputy governor, who expressed worry on the increasing cases of usurpation of power by many power drunk priests, said Governor Oyebanji’s administration detests actions that could denigrate the stools of traditional rulers in Ekiti State.

She reminded the people of the existing laws that forbid individuals from wearing beads, crowns and other paraphernalia of traditional stools, except such a person had been installed lawfully and pronounced by the constituted authorities to occupy such position or act in that capacity.

At the peace parley, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, represented by six Chiefs from Alawe in Council, led by the Elemo of Oke Emo, High Chief Gbenga Agbona, emphasised that it was alien to the good people of Ilawe Ekiti, culture and traditions for priests to wear crown and other paraphernalia of office like a king, all in the name of festivals.

The Alawe-in-Council said such practices often demonstrated by the High Chief Ororin of Irorin Quarters, Ilawe Ekiti, High Chief Sunday Atolaju, was capable of bringing division in the ancient town.

The monarch urged government to stop him from parading himself as a king, saying that Ilawe Ekiti has one king and hence, he should stop further actions that could denigrate the stool of the paramount ruler in Ilawe Ekiti.

The defendant and Head Chief of Irorin Quarters, Chief Sunday Olu Atolaju and his supporters presented pictorial evidence and other facts to justify their claims that the Head of Irorin Quarters was entitled to wear crown and other paraphernalia of office during their festivals.

Chief Atolaju had in previous meetings claimed that their culture allows him to wear crown, saying that his predecessors had been practising such from time immemorial.