Ekiti monarch threatens to sanction three chiefs over supremacy war

From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
|
The Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, has threatened to sanction three chiefs for engaging in supremacy war and distortion of the town’s history.

The monarch made the threat while presiding over an emergency meeting held in his palace, expressing disgust that the concerned chiefs took the battle to the media which has embarrassed his traditional cabinet, the Alawe-in-Council.

The first class monarch said the outbursts of the erring chiefs on the performance of traditional rites in a section of the media portrayed the kingdom in bad light.

According to a communique issued at the end of the emergency meeting signed by Oba Alabi, the Council described the outbursts of the three chiefs on certain aspects of Ilawe history as “unfounded, reckless and the height of indiscretion.”

The affected chiefs are the Elemo of Okeloye, High Chief Adeolu Asebioge; the Elemo of Okeemo, High Chief Gbenga Agbona and the Elero of Okeemo, High Chief Olufemi Akinwumi.

The communique reads: “The Alawe In Council in Ilawe Ekiti at an emergency meeting on Friday has described the stories in some newspapers and outbursts of three of the community’s chiefs on certain aspects of the history of the town as unfounded, reckless and the height of indiscretion.

“The council therefore disowned such outbursts by the concerned chiefs.

“The Council pledged its unalloyed loyalty to the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, HRM, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, Afuntade 1.

“The Council condemned the erring chiefs, the Elemo of Okeloye, High Chief Adeolu Asebioge,  the Elemo of Okeemo, High chief Gbenga Agbona and the Elero of Okeemo, High Chief Olufemi Akinwumi for their struggle for supremacy by embarking on press war on the performance of traditional rites.

“The concerned chiefs were doing such for self recognition, aggrandizement and unnecessary ego boosting.

“The Council which is made up of all quarter head chiefs in the town urged members of the public to disregard the publications made by the three chiefs as they were not the true representations of Ilawe tradition and history.

“The three Chiefs had gone to the press each claiming superiority over another on the performance of traditional rites during the installation and the passing of an Oba.

“The Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, HRM Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi noted that the erring chiefs would be sanctioned in line with the tradition and custom of the community for their recent sacrilegious utterances to the press.

“The Alawe warned that heavier sanctions await any chief who commits infractions against the tradition and custom of Ilawe – Ekiti in future.”