The traditional ruler
of Ilogbo Ekiti, Oba Edward Ajayi, who abandoned the throne six months ago for
safety has returned to his palace. The king was allegedly chased away by angry
subjects over certain offences. The king’s return was facilitated by the state
government which intervened in his plight to enable him to reclaim the throne.
Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on media, Mr Odunayo Ogunmola, in a
statement in Ado Ekiti on Sunday said his principal, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi,
mediated in the six-month-old crisis on behalf of Gov. Kayode Fayemi.
He said government had fully resolved the crisis rocking Ilogbo Ekiti, in
Ido/Osi Local Government, where the indigenes were locked in dispute with their
monarch.
He said the deputy governor called on the stakeholders in the town to allow
peace to reign and bury the hatchet.
According to him, Egbeyemi made the appeal shortly after the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the crisis, at the Conference Hall of
the Office of the Deputy Governor in Ado Ekiti.
He said the resolution of the conflict followed the signing of the MoU by
parties to the crisis and critical stakeholders in the town.
“The king had been prevented from entering the town and occupying the palace
for the past six months
“With the signing of the peace accord, the Deputy Governor said, the king is
now free to return to the throne and resume his royal duties after six months
in exile, expressing confidence that the resolution of the crisis will usher in
new era of development
“Egbeyemi, who noted that it was not easy for the traditional ruler to leave
his throne for six months, urged all parties to fulfill the terms of the peace
accord and work together to lift their community to greater heights”, the
statement said.
It added that Gov. Fayemi was interested in peace and development of all
communities in Ekiti State and would not want to be distracted via one crisis
or the other in his desire to better the lots of the people.
Quoting the deputy governor, the statement said “Our government is a government
of peace; we don’t want crisis or breakdown of law and order in any part of the
state. Kabiyesi, you can now go back to your domain anytime you wish.
“Let us all agree that the crisis is over because we have all signed the MoU
and that you will all allow peace to reign and everybody will go about his
business.”
Meanwhile, Oba Ajayi has commended the state government for the intervention
and successful resolution of the crisis.
The monarch who hailed the Deputy Governor for bringing his wealth of
experience to bear in reconciling the various interest groups in Ilogbo,
expressed joy that peace had finally returned.
Besides King Ajayi, other signatories to the peace deal included the Alayetoro
of Ayetoro Ekiti representing Ido/Osi LG traditional rulers, King Olufisan
Ajayi.
It included the Coordinating Director, Ido/Osi Local Government, Mr Akinola
Adebayo; a prominent Ilogbo indigene and former Ekiti State House of Assembly
Deputy Speaker, Chief Adetunji Orisalade.
Others were chieftain of Egbe Ilosiwaju Ilogbo, Chief Gabriel Fasuyi, and
officials of the Ministry of Justice and Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs.
King Ajayi was evicted from the palace and chased away from the town on Oct.
21, 2018 during a violent protest which claimed one life and property worth
million of Naira.
The monarch was accused by his subjects of alleged highhandedness, autocratic
tendencies and withholding of monthly allowances of his chiefs.
He was also accused of failure to control his children whom they alleged were
involved in cultism and bringing suspected cultists to their town to unleash
terror.
