The intractable cold war between the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and some aggrieved prominent traditional rulers on Monday appears to have been resolved following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Oba Ogunwusi, who is the permanent Chairman of the Council of Obas in Osun State held a peace meeting behind close door with Fayemi and the aggrieved monarchs inside the Government House, Ado-Ekiti to broker peace between the warring parties.
Governor Fayemi, the Ooni and Prof Akintoye, had earlier met briefly before the main meeting with the obas, describing the parley with the traditional rulers as a “family meeting.”
The aggrieved Obas include Ewi of Ado-Ekiti Oba Rufus Adejugbe; Oloye of Oye Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; Elekole of Ikole Oba Adewumi Fasiku; Elemure of Emure Oba Emmanuel Ogunleye; Ajero of Ijero Oba Joseph Adewole; Alara of Aramoko, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi.
Others are: Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti Oba Samuel Adejimi; Olomuo of Omuo Oba Noah Omonigbehin; Alaaye of Efon Oba Emmanuel Aladejare; Ologotun of Oguntun Oba Samuel Oyebade and Olujudo of Ido-Faboro, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro.
For sometime now, the duo had been at loggerheads since July 31, 2019 over the appointment of Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi as the chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers.
Dissatisfied with Oba Alabi’s appointment, the aggrieved monarchs approached the Ekiti High Court seeking among others the nullification of Fayemi’s action on the premise that Oba Alabi was not recognised by statute to head the council.
They argued that they had the exclusive rights to head the council, among the 22 members, in line with the extant tradition and the State Chieftaincy Laws, threatening that they won’t attend the inauguration of Alawe as Council Chairman and any meeting of the council where he presides.
Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting, Oba Ogunwusi assured Nigerians and Ekiti people that the meeting succeeded in resolving the impasse that arose as a result of the traditional council chairmanship.
Oba Ogunwusi commended Governor Kayode for his efforts at ensuring that there was peace among the state traditional rulers by going to the extent of visiting the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi to explain his own side of the story.
He described the Governor’s gesture as a honourable move that signified true leadership.
He restated that there is mutual respect and synergy between people in government and the traditional council, adding that obas are still upholding the heritage, culture and tradition the forefathers handed over to them several thousand years ago.
“I am here for a particular reason and to the glory of God , we don’t have any issue again. Everything settled and you can see we are all here. It is normal that might be slight differences here and there but it is something within the family of Oduduwa clam and to the glory of God, it is has been resolved.
“The governor is here, all the pelupelu obas are here, the main founding fathers of Ekiti and I can to a large extent it has been resolved. They are the father to the governor and you know we have an amiable son of Oduduwa who is the governor in Ekiti state”, he said.
Also speaking to newsmen on behalf of other traditional rulers, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe and the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Adewole Adebayo said they have resolved to suspend all litigations arising from the chairmanship and related issues.
The royal fathers explained that communication gap between them and government was responsible for the reason why the case was not resolved before now.
In a remark, Chairman Ekiti Council of Obas, Oba Adebanji Alabi said the impasse has eventually been let off, saying there was no more division among the monarchs as the issues causing the row has been resolved.