Ayodele Bamidele
The people of Epe in Ijero local government area of Ekiti state have driven away Oba Williams Adesoye out of the palace and banished him from the community for being high handed and tyrannic.
Oba Adesoye was also accused of withholding monthly entitlements of some of his Chiefs and forcefully taken over lands from owners.
Some youth backed by elite of the town, had staged consistent violent protests and forcefully banished the monarch from the town, over alleged high-handedness, unruly actions and display of behaviours that were antithetical to traditional norms.
The Ejemoye of Epe Ekiti and second in command, to Oba Adesoye Chief Olajide Dada, who spoke on the decision by the community, lamented that the monarch had problems with the kingmakers, youth, elite and virtually all the women groups in the town.
Chief Dada accused the monarch of arbitrarily suspending the kingmakers and chiefs that were opposed to him without deferring to higher authorities, saying “we can’t work with him again. He had defiled our town by his actions and on that deposition we stand.”
Following complete break down of law and order in the community, Ekiti state deputy governor, Monisola Afuye has intervened, and appealed to the people of Epe, in Ijero local government to reopen the community’s palace to allow the monarch access to the place.
While mediating in a case of deposition and banishment of Oba Adesoye from the throne by his subjects, the deputy governor appealed to the irate community members to forgive and offer the monarch a second chance to amend his perceived shortcomings.
To nip the crisis in the bud expeditiously, Mrs Afuye, directed the two warring factions to within seven days meet at the palace of Ajero of Ijero Ekiti and the Paramount ruler of Ijero kingdom, Oba Joseph Adewole and settle the crisis wholesomely.
Mrs Afuye also appealed to the town to reopen the shut palace at the appointed time stipulated by the tradition for the monarch to have access and administer over his town, but with a warning that he should be ready to accommodate all his opponents.
The Deputy Governor, said any town without substantive monarch can’t witness meaningful development, which makes it instructive for the subjects to have a change of heart and give the monarch a second chance.
As part of the terms of reference to wriggle the monarch out of crisis, Mrs Afuye, urged the traditional ruler to release the farmland that has caused problem between him and a faction of the ruling house to the rightful owner and should be ready to accept all the chiefs opposed to him.
“The governor didn’t want to hear that our communities are experiencing violence and instability. All over the country, Ekiti is rated as the most peaceful and we are maintaining that status.
“The ways we handle our chieftaincy and land matters have become a template in this country.
“I appeal to you, let us forgive and forget. But Kabiyesi, you have to change your ways. The Epe Day that you have abandoned, I want you to work with the elites and chiefs to achieve this. Your people loved you. Please, don’t misbehave to them.
“From today, be accommodating and anytime you are angry with your people, try and consult those who can intervene.
“This is the more reason why you have Ajero as your guide. You can’t afford to misbehave to those who enthroned you because the ultimate power belongs to them.”
In his defence, the embattled Oba Adesoye, who apologized to his subjects, including chiefs, youth and women groups, denied involvement in the withholding of stipends to some suspended chiefs, saying he had long given the chiefs the leeway to direct their own affairs in this regard.
Oba Adesoye assured the state government and the concerned stakeholders that he would amend his ways and unite with all the subjects for rapid development of Epe community.
The monarch pledged to liaise with all relevant authorities for prompt release of those that were detained and charged to court in relation to the crisis on his prompting .
The Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, appealed to the community to forgive the monarch and allow the matter to be resolved amicably in the spirit of peace , unity and stability, warning that deposing the king may derail the development of the town.
Oba Adewole, who is the Paramount ruler of Ijero kingdom, disclosed that the king has just understood that ultimate power belongs to the people, saying it was wrong and flies in the face of tradition for monarch to be dictatorial and tyrannic.
“If you remove him, there will be a setback. He has apologized, I beg you, kindly accept his apologies , for your own good and for the sake of your generations yet unborn.”