Ekiti State Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi has instructed the Eleese of Ilara Quarters at Ilamo-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government, Chief Ezekiel Olanipekun, to remain a chief under the Alamo of Ilamo-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Awoseyila.
Otunba Egbeyemi made the resolution during a peace meeting in his office in Ado-Ekiti with the duo and some chiefs from Ilamo and Ikole-Ekiti.
Crisis broke out a few months ago at Ilamo-Ekiti as a result of the resolve by members of the community to remove a certain Ezekiel Olanipekun as Eleeshe of Ulara Quarters over insubordination and unruly behaviour, which threatened the peace of the ancient town.
The deputy governor, who supervises chieftaincy matters in the state and has been on the matter since inception, said government’s resolution became expedient following claims and counter-claims on the chieftaincy title, its holder and domain.
He explained that according to the evidence presented to him through the State Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, which included the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration Law, official gazette of Ilamo Ekiti, as well as pictures of traditional rites performed on Eleese, Chief Olanipekun remains in Ilamo-Ekiti and second in command to Oba Awoseyila.
Egbeyemi backed the decision through a copy of a High Court verdict on the issue, which ruled that Elese is under Alamo.
He said the government would not fold its arms and allow a peaceful community to be in chaos, urging the chief to work with the Oba for the development of the town.
Olanipekun had aligned his chieftaincy title with Ikole-Ekiti, the claim which some chiefs from Elekole’s palace came to explain.
Egbeyemi, however, maintained government’s position, saying with the facts submitted to the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, the said chief should maintain the status quo.
According to a government source, the deputy governor had acted on pure evidence before him in arriving at the resolution.
Concerned stakeholders have warned that the public should avoid politicising the issue or spread unnecessary sensational news on social media.
They have also appealed to reporters to always strive to get their facts right before going to the press on such a traditional matter, to avoid crisis in the community.