From WOLE BALOGUN, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti South West Local Government Traditional Council in Ekiti State is still in uproar over the battle for its chairmanship seat. The Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi consequently fired back at the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Oyebade, who has been occupying the seat since 1997.
Oba Alabi who accused Oba Oyebade of “showing a shallow sense of history” disputed the claim of the latter that he (the Ologotun) is the only “Pelupelu Oba” in Ekiti South West LG.
Alawe insisted that he and Arajaka of Igbara Odo-Ekiti, Oba Edward Jayeola, are also Pelupelu Obas and are favoured by history to occupy the chairmanship of Ekiti South West LG Traditional Council being held by the Ologotun for 20 years.
Oba Alabi was reacting to the claim of Oba Oyebade, that neither the Alawe nor the Arajaka were among the 16 foremost kings known as Pelupelu Obas:
“Ologotun showed a shallow sense of history by claiming to be the only Pelupelu Oba in Ekiti South West. This is because Alawe and Arajaka were Pelupelu during the colonial days and the number 16 was never sacrosanct, it varied.
“At the onset in 1900, it was 16 and subsequently, some Obas left and these included Deji of Akure now in Ondo State and Owalobo of Obbo who is now in Kwara State. Other Obas joined variously within that period like the Attah of Ayede (1920), Elemure of Emure (1929), Alawe, Arajaka, Olojudo of Ido-Ile and Olosi (all in 1947).
“This has been recognized and acknowledged by the past governments in Western Region, Western State, old Ondo State and now in Ekiti State. Twenty Obas attained that status until the Pelupelu Council was dissolved in 1958 before independence.
“Alawe, Arajaka, Ologotun, Elemure, Ogoga (of Ikere), Arinjale (of Ise) were rotating the chairmanship in the old Ekiti South Local Government. In fact, in 1965, Alawe as chairman under Ekiti South Local Government signed the declaration with which Elemure was appointed Oba then.
“Even when Ekiti South West LG was created in 1976, the Ondo State Law No 11 of 1979 that was the instrument of creation did not make provision for sole chairmanship but rotation among the three
Obas. We have been benefiting from the rights and privileges attached to the position in terms of remuneration and other perks of office.
“Therefore, it is a sign of shallow knowledge of history on the part of Ologotun to claim that he is the only Pelupelu Oba in Ekiti South West. This is very wrong and should be corrected. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have joined issues with him, but I owe him a history on behalf of my community.
“Ologotun will be deluding himself to think that Ilawe will be the headquarters of the local government and its monarch will be denied the right to chair the traditional council.”
Traditional chiefs of Ilawe and Igbara Odo had last week on Wednesday staged a public protest at the local government secretariat calling on Ogotun to step down from the chairmanship the Ekiti South West Traditional Council, the post he had occupied since 1997.
The state government is investigating the crisis by setting up a special panel chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, expected to submit its report soon.