From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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Peace has gradually returned to Ora Ekiti, in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state, after the indigenes of the agrarian community locked  the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Samuel Akinola Adeyemo, out of his palace unceremoniously.

The monarch, Obalemo of Odo Ora, was said to have been chased out of his palace with his family  and made to trek few meters barefooted to a mud house owned by one of his family members in the town, where he is currently living.

The Hope Metro gathered that trouble started when some  kingmakers and other community leaders in the town alleged that the procedure that produced the monarch was faulty and that he was not formally installed.

When our correspondent visited the sleepy community on Thursday morning, palm fronds were seen in front of the palace which was completely deserted, apparently to prevent anybody from gaining entrance or occupying the building.

Some residents of the town were seen going about theirdaily activities, while some youths of the town were seen standing in groups discussing the development.

All efforts made to speak with the embattled monarch proved abortive, as he was said to have gone to Ado-Ekiti for a meeting with the Deputy Governor,  Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi.

Speaking wi th The Hope Metro,  one of the Chiefs in the community, who craved anonymity, because  he was not authorised to speak, disclosed that the matter has been reported to the Ekiti State Government.

He said that the crisis was allegedly carried out by hoodlums and  sponsored by some interest groups in the community.

He explained that the monarch has forwarded a  ‘Save My Soul’ petition to the government on the crisis, adding that the matter would soon be settled following the intervention of the government and other notable indigenes of the town.

Similarly, one of the community leaders, in the town,  Prof. Olawumi Ajaja, said Odo Ora indigenes had nothing against the person of the embattled monarch but against the process that produced him.

Ajaja, former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, said the traditions of the town still see the monarch as an Oba-elect, alleging that traditional rites were yet to be performed before the monarch went ahead to parade  himself as monarch of the town.

The Deputy Governor had ealier on Wednesday,  through a statement by his Special Assistant (Media) Odunayo Ogunmola, warned that the full weight of the law would be visited on individuals fomenting trouble in Odo Ora, Egbeyemi said that government had to summon the peace meeting following intelligence report from security agencies on possible outbreak of violence over the kingship crisis in the  town.

The deputy governor warned stakeholders in Odo Ora to maintain peace, stressing that government won’t depose any monarch in the state.

He advised Odo Ora indigenes, who are aggrieved with the emergence of Oba Adeyemo as the Obalemo to seek redress in the court of law. Egbeyemi further stressed that government would not fold its arms and allow the situation to degenerate into anarchy.

“If there is outbreak of violence, all culprits will be arrested and prosecuted. Let there be peace in your community.”

The deputy governor urged parties in the crisis to report back in his office on February 21 for a follow-up peace parley in a bid to resolve the impasse.