By Zika Bobby
For alleged insubordination to the Alamo of Ilamo Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Awoseila, a kingmaker in the town, Chief Ezekiel Olanipekun, has been directed to step aside.
Subsequently, the monarch has been mandated to write officially to the Ekiti State government to seek authority for the commencement of a process for the installation of a new Eleese of Ilamo to replace the estranged kingmaker.
The government said the action became expedient, following a confessional statement made by the chief that his Ilara chieftaincy clan was under Ikole Ekiti and not Ilamo, despite his installation in 2015 by Alamo.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, handed down the directive on Thursday while presiding over a case brought by Oba Awoseila against the kingmaker.
In the petition personally signed by Oba Awoseila, the monarch accused the estranged Chief of insubordination, disobedience, wearing of beaded crown and staff and running of parallel government, contrary to customs and tradition of the town.
Addressing the issues, the Deputy Governor agreed that the kingmaker, who is second in command to Alamo, was allegedly being subversive and unruly to the monarch because he was pursuing autonomy for his Ilara clan.
She said: “Let me say that it seems Chief Olanipekun by his action was not ready to cooperate with Alamo to run the town peacefully and progressively. He is interested in his autonomy. So, Kabiyesi should go back home and write to us formally that he is ready to install a new Eleese that can work with him.
“Let Chief Olanipekun step aside and pursue his autonomy. He should stop dividing the town. Henceforth, government won’t tolerate him wearing beaded crown and staff, it is unacceptable.
“Since he has claimed that he was under Ikole, whatever Chief Olanipekun wants to do should be done in Ikole and not Ilamo Ekiti. Governor Biodun Oyebanji is a lover of peace and he won’t tolerate anyone conducting himself in an unruly manner and causing a crisis over power tussle”, she stated.
In his defence on Thursday, Chief Olanipekun denied the accusation that he had been wearing a beaded crown, creating an atmosphere of crisis, saying the traditional cap he wore during the Ojuju Festival, was the one he inherited from his forebears.
The kingmaker stated further that Elekole and paramount ruler of Egbeoba, was the only king that had overriding authority on his chieftaincy title and not Alamo.
The traditional Chief also denied the claim that he dragged the Alamo-in-Council to court, saying it was Alamo that sued his Ilara Clan over land matter, which he said his family won at the Appellate Court.