Ekiti Govt. Orders Kingmaker to Step Aside Over Alleged Rebellion Against Monarch

…Mandates Alamo to begin process to install new Eleese

Gbenga Sodehinde in Ado Ekiti

For allegedly displayed acts of insubordination, rebellion and unruly behaviour to Alamo of Ilamo Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Awoseila, a kingmaker in the town, Chief Ezekiel Olanipekun, has been directed to step aside for allegedly subverting and resisting the authority of the monarch.

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 Chief Olanipekun that his Ilara chieftaincy clan was under Ikole Ekiti and not Ilamo, despite that he was installed in 2015 by Alamo.

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (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 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 Ezekiel 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”.

Further in the petition, Oba Awoseila, who commended the government’s action, said Chief Olanipekun had been holding a parallel Ojuju festival in the town, describing this as antithetical to the customs and tradition of the town.

“In 2021, Chief Olanipekun held a parallel Ojuju festival, which can only be held by Alamo-in-Council. He usurped our power because he was being aided by some Ikole chiefs. If truly that the title belongs to Ikole Ekiti as being claimed, why was I the one that installed him?

“Since he was installed in 2015, he has never sat with us to discuss the progress of our town. When we wanted to remove him, he took us to court and never showed up, thereby creating tension. These can’t continue, the government must do something to rescue us from this mess”.

Last year, under the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, the lingering issue was brought to the attention of the Ekiti State Government and Chief Olanipekun was warned by the late Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi who read the riot act to Chief Olanipekun
to desist from instigating violence, commotion and communal disturbances in the community.

In his defence on Thursday, the accused chief denied the accusation that he had been wearing a beaded crown and 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 has 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 up to the Appellate Court.