By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has warned traditional chiefs across the 140 statutory communities in the state against resisting or declining summons issued to them by the government in the course of intervening in chieftaincy or communal matters.

It threatened that any chief who disrespects the state by refusing to appear before a panel to clarify any issue without justifiable reasons would henceforth face disciplinary action.

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, handed down the warning on Wednesday while presiding over a petition submitted by the Alararomi of Araromi Ekiti, Oba Adebomi Babalola, against two of his chiefs.

In the petition, Oba Babalola accused the Eesa of Araromi Ekiti, Chief Olufemi Toyebi, and the Ojumu, Chief Idowu Atewogbola, of installing one Mr Bayo Alu as the Odofin of the community without deferring to him as the prescribed authority—a move he described as flagrant insubordination and outright disrespect.

While presiding over the matter, the Deputy Governor, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, expressed displeasure over the absence of the chiefs at the parley, despite being duly contacted by the Ministry.

Mrs Afuye, who was represented by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon Ojo Atibioke, decried the growing trend of disrespect towards constituted authority among traditional chiefs, warning that such would no longer be tolerated.

“The government will take punitive action against some of our chiefs who have shown disrespect to the state authorities by resisting or turning down summons to appear before panels meant to resolve communal crises.

“We cannot sit idly by while our state is disrespected. What the chiefs did by refusing to appear today is punishable. They claimed they were sick—how can three of them be ill at the same time?

“All these acts of disrespect must stop. What we’re doing here is to ensure peace across our towns, in line with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s agenda, and we won’t allow anyone to frustrate these efforts,” she warned.

Speaking to his petition, Oba Babalola alleged that the three individuals had been sowing division and fuelling acrimony in the community by running a parallel leadership structure aimed at undermining his authority.

He urged the government to sanction the erring chiefs for disrespecting both the state and his stool, to serve as a deterrent to others who treat the government and traditional institution with disdain.

The monarch also appealed to the government to restrain the installed chief from parading himself as a titleholder, stating that he is not recognised in accordance with the Ekiti State Chiefs Law.

Weighing in on the matter, the Ajero of Ijero and a first-class monarch, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, described the offence committed by the two chiefs as grave and punishable under the law.

Oba Adewole noted that their actions amounted to insubordination and deliberate attempts to instigate division within the town.

“Only the king has the authority to install a chief. The Ekiti State Chiefs Law clearly states that anyone who installs a chief without the consent and approval of the prescribed authority has committed a punishable offence.

“It is also clearly stated in the law that the person installed in such a manner is equally culpable. So, the three of them are liable to prosecution,” the monarch declared.