From Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
The disagreement that trailed the chairmanship seat of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, has welcomed a different dimension, as the 17 pelupelu Obas seemed to have been divided over what was described as the rejection of Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as the new head of the council.
The Pelupelu Obas, who thought they had the exclusive rights to the Chairmanship among the 22 members, in line with tradition and the State Chieftaincy Laws, had, gone to court to challenge Governor Kayode Fayemi’s appointment of Oba Alabi as the new Council chairman.
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However, the sign that the ranks of the Obas and litigants seemed to have been depleted manifested on Tuesday, as two prominent traditional rulers among the 17 Pelupelu /Aladejerindinlogun Obas ; the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Abdulmumin Orisagbemi and Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, attended the council meeting presided over by Alawe in Ado-Ekiti capital city.
Since the appointment was made in June, after the expiration of the tenure of Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the 17 Obas, had abstained from the council meeting owing to the impression that Alawe was politically promoted to that rank and that he was not qualified to occupy the exalted seat.
In a writ of summon filed at the Ado-Ekiti High Court, the 17 Obas urged the court to reverse Fayemi’s action on the premise that Alawe was not recognised by statute to chair the Council.
But a source among the Obas, who craved anonymity, revealed to journalists on thursday that the two Obas were at the meeting held at the council chambers on Tuesday.
The source added that more would attend another meeting of the council slated for December 10, 2019, saying the two only came to test the waters and see how the reaction would look like.
“The First class and other Obas present at the chamber were so happy when they saw the Attah and Onisan in attendance.
“The two Obas came and they said that they were ready to embrace the out -of- court settlement and reconciliation moves being made by Governor Fayemi, the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Ekiti Council of Elders.
“With this, it was obvious that the crisis is gradually being resolved”, he said.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prof. Adio Folayan, said government has been making efforts to reconcile the warring Obas.
Adio, however, refused to confirm whether the two Obas had actually backed out of the fray against Fayemi and Alawe over the controversial issue.
Meanwhile, the Attah of Ayede, Oba Orisagbemi confirmed that he attended the meeting on the premise that peace initiative had been brokered by stakeholders to settle the rift that emanated by Alawe’s appointment.
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“Yes, I attended the meeting because Otunba Adebayo had met with us and I believed all he told us. I knew he has the capacity to fulfil all he promised to bring settlement, likewise Governor Fayemi. I, as an individual, I am ready to embrace peace, because I am not interested in any court case again”.
The Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Alabi, was not available for comments, as his mobile phone number was swtiched off when called.
