Insubordination: Fayemi queries Ewi, 15 other Ekiti monarchs

From Victor Akinkuolie Ado-Ekiti
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Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has issued queries to the 16 prominent traditional rulers in the state over what he called, ‘continue absence’ in functions of the government.

The Hope learnt that the query had caused panic in the towns of the affected monarchs and made people feel that government allegedly wanted to deal with the monarchs.

The affected monarchs were, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe,  Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu and other fourteen top traditional rulers in the state.

The apprehension was rife as it came few days after the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Lamido Sanusi II was deposed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The governor was said to have issued the queries over continued absence of the monarchs from the monthly meeting of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers since the emergence of Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as the chairman of the Council.

The query dated March 11, 2020 signed by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. A.O. Adeoye and addressed to the Obas individually , a copy of which was sighted by journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday , said the Obas must respond to the queries within 72 hours.

The query read in parts, “It had come to the attention of Mr. Governor that Your Royal Majesty has not been attending the monthly statutory meeting of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and state official functions since August 2019.

“Your conspicuous absence at the Council meetings and state official functions, without any excuse or justification is considered inimical to the proper administration of the chieftaincy institution you represent.

“Therefore, Mr Governor has directed that Your Royal Majesty should forward your representation for this inaction through this office within 72 hours on the receipt of this letter,” the letter concluded .

The Obas contended that the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law stipulated that the Chairman of the Council should be appointed among the Pelupelu/Alademerindinlogun Obas, the category they said Alawe did not belong.

The monarchs had since boycotted all state functions and the council meeting and had gone ahead to sue the state government over the action.

The monarchs, in the suit number HAD/76/2019, filed before an Ado Ekiti High Court, are seeking nullification of the appointment, saying the governor’s action of picking someone outside the 16 Obas as chairman was, “a violation of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.”

In an originating summon filed by Dr. B.A.M. Ajibade, SAN, on August 7, 2019 and deposed to by Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adewole, on behalf of other 15 Obas, the monarchs are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining Fayemi from swearing in Alawe as the chairman of the council.

Respondents in the suit are: Governor Fayemi (1st), the Attorney General of Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda (2nd) and Oba Alabi (3rd).

Speaking on the query, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said the insinuation about the depose of the monarchs is not true.

He said it is merely an administrative matter which is neither contentious nor confrontational. “It is definitely not a ploy or plan to remove any Oba from office. As public officers, our traditional rulers act as the direct link between government and their domains.

“The monarchs have expected duties and functions, and as an administrative head, Mr Governor should be aware of reasons why such duties are not being carried out.

“It is on record that some of the Obas had earlier written Mr Governor to give legitimate reasons for their absence which have been accepted.

“The letter in focus was written to only about 11 Obas whose absence could not be explained and not to the 16 Pelupelu as erroneously reported.

“Any rumour claiming that Governor Fayemi is planning to dethrone any Oba in Ekiti State is a deliberate and malicious misrepresentation of the true situation. It is obviously an attempt from opposition to create chaos and confusion between the Ekiti State Government and the good and law abiding people of Ekiti State

“The Governor holds all our traditional rulers in high esteem and reverence as expected of an Omoluabi, No arm of government discussed nor considered dethroning any Kabiyesi at any time because there is no basis for such.