As strong indications emerged that Ekiti State Governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi was poised to follow the footsteps of his Kano counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje who dethroned the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayinwola Adeyemi III, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II and five other most prominent traditional rulers in Yoruba land have written to Fayemi advising him to tread with care over his rumored plans to dethrone 11 Obas in Ekiti.
The letter dated March 12, and signed by the seven prominent traditional rulers in Yoruba land was written a day after Fayemi issued a strongly-worded query to the 11 most prominent traditional rulers in Ekiti, called the Pelupelu Obas, accusing them of insubordination and giving them 72 hours to respond, failure to which they would likely be administered what a source close to the governor described to Huhuonline.com as the “Sanusi treatment.” The query dated March 11, 2020, was signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs by Mr. A. O. Adeoye.
The affected Obas include Ewi of Ado-Ekiti Oba Rufus Adejugbe; Oloye of Oye Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; Elekole of Ikole Oba Adewumi Fasiku; Elemure of Emure Oba Emmanuel Ogunleye; Ajero of Ijero Oba Joseph Adewole; Alara of Aramoko, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi. Others are: Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti Oba Samuel Adejimi; Olomuo of Omuo Oba Noah Omonigbehin; Alaaye of Efon Oba Emmanuel Aladejare; Ologotun of Oguntun Oba Samuel Oyebade and Olujudo of Ido-Faboro, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro.
Although Fayemi like Ganduje has come out to publicly deny any plan to remove any traditional ruler in the state, his body language and statements credited to the Ekiti governor fuming to close aides about his frustration with the traditional rulers have left no one in doubt about his preferred course of action; if and when push comes to shove. Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said: “The letter in focus was written to only about 11 Obas whose absence could not be explained and not to the 16 Pelupelu Obas as erroneously reported,” he said. According to the governor, the letter written to the foremost monarchs was merely an administrative matter, which was neither contentious nor confrontational.
Huhuonline.com learnt from sources in Ado-Ekiti that there has been no love lost between the foremost monarchs and Fayemi over the appointment of the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council in July last year. Angered by the development, 17 Pelupelu Obas approached the state high court to challenge the appointment of the Alawe of Ilawe as chairman of the traditional council. The monarchs described the appointment as a clear violation of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law. In a writ of summons file, the 17 Obas urged the court to reverse Fayemi’s action on the premise that Alawe was not recognised by statute to chair the council. The aggrieved monarchs said they were opposed to the appointment and therefore, resolved to boycott state functions and meetings where Oba Alabi would preside as the chairman.
However, five of the 17 aggrieved prominent monarchs- Onisan of Isan Ekiti Oba Gabriel Adejuwon; Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Abdulmumin Orisagbemi; Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti Oba Idowu Babalola; Owa of Oke-Imesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji and Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Oba Ajayi Adetunji back-pedaled and have been attending the council meeting presided over by Oba Alabi.
Miffed and angered by the continuous boycott of state functions, the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, acting on the directive of the governor, issued the monarchs the query, to explain their absence in government activities and meeting of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state. They have been ordered to respond within 72 hours. The source noted the monarchs might be dethroned soon for insubordination against the Fayemi-led administration. “I think Mr. Governor has directed the ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters to issue a query to them demanding explanation on their absence at the statutory Council meeting and government functions they were invited to. As things stand now, the affected 11 Obas might be dethroned if they failed to respond to the query issued them,” the source said.
Just like Ganduje who abused the instruments of State power to deposed Sanusi, Fayemi has employed the same tactics which he admitted in his statement: “The Bureau briefed the governor on the prolonged absence of some members of the state’s Traditional Council to meetings and traditional council meetings at the local government level. Mr. Governor directed that the Bureau should write the affected traditional rulers to find out reasons for their absence. The Attorney-General wrote to the Bureau on Mr. Governor’s directives. Consequently, the Bureau (through a senior official) wrote to the affected traditional rulers seeking reasons for their prolonged absence at council meetings. The formal nature of the letter is what is being misconstrued to be a query.”
And just like Ganduje who insisted that the Emir of Kano was answerable to him as governor, Fayemi too has insisted that traditional rulers are uncircumcised appendages of the state government. Hear Fayemi in his own words: “Contrary to insinuations, this is merely an administrative matter, which is neither contentious nor confrontational. It is not a ploy or plan to remove any oba from the office. As public officers, our traditional rulers act as the direct link between government and their domains; they have expected duties and functions, and as an administrative head, Mr. Governor should be aware of reasons such duties are not being carried out.”
The public is not fooled because this same movie played out in Kano and Nigerians knew how it ended, despite repeated denials by Ganduje that he held the traditional institutions in very high esteem and insisted he had no intention to dethrone the Emir of Kano. Fayemi too is singing the same song: “In Ekiti State, our traditional rulers are well respected and revered as custodians of our culture and traditions. The Fayemi administration is committed to the welfare and protection of the cultural heritage of our people which the Kabiyesis hold in trust.
“Any rumour claiming that Governor Fayemi is planning to dethrone any Oba in Ekiti State is a deliberate and malicious misrepresentation of the true situation. It is an attempt from opposition to create chaos and confusion between the Ekiti State Government and the good and law-abiding people of Ekiti State. The governor holds all our traditional rulers in high esteem and reverence as expected of an Omoluabi. No arm of government discussed nor considered dethroning any Kabiyesi at any time because there is no basis for such. Anyone spreading such malicious and unfounded rumours is an enemy of the good people of Ekiti State and they are hereby advised to desist from creating unnecessary tension in the polity,” Fayemi noted in his statement.
Amid the rising tension over the possible dethronement of the 11 Obas, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayinwola Adeyemi III, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II and five other most prominent traditional rulers in Yoruba land have written to Fayemi advising him to tread with care. The letter dated March 12, 2020 was signed by seven prominent traditional rulers in Yoruba land. The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Huhuonline.com offered a mild rebuke to Governor Fayemi by advising him to respect the composition of the council of Obas and the Chiefs in the state, saying the sacrosanctity of the Pelupelu that grades the 16 crowned Obas in Ekiti land was not in doubt.
The letter reads in part: “Suffice to say, Your Excellency that in any human society and more so in Yoruba Land, order of hierarchy and seniority are of vital consideration in position placement. The traditional rulers said from Immemorial Obaship leadership in Ekiti land had been within the 16 Obas without any dispute or quarrel among them and indeed to the admiration of other Yoruba Kingdoms.
“It was therefore with total displeasure and real discomfort that we learnt of Your Excellency’s neglect if the hierarchical order by appointing a subordinate Oba ad the Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the State over and above the recognized order. “In a free society like ours, nobody should expect those injured by that assault to keep quiet. As civilised people, rather than confronting or engaging the government, they chose the court option.
“Since the case is still in court, we will not want to comment further on it as law abiding citizens. I however would have expected Your Excellency waits till the end of the court process before acting on the matter. It is in this note that I, along with fellow Traditional Rulers across Yoruba Land feel very sad that Your Excellency issued query to the sixteen Ekiti Crowned respected Traditional Rulers of high esteem in Yoruba Land for not bowing their heads to their subordinate by not attending the council meeting under their subordinate. That exercise and without mincing words is to say the least subjudice.
“We consider it important to go Memory Lane with you on the role of Pelupelu Obas in Ekiti Land in the development of Yoruba Nation. This is particular with Ekitiparapo War which is very famous in Yoruba War History as Kiriji War (1870 – 1886). Suffice to say that in the course of the sixteen year-old war, the battle became so internecine and threatening that the Alaafin as the head of the Yoruba Nation had to write to the British Authority to mediate in bringing the war ti an end. This led to the Treaty of Peace of 1886 between the British and Yiruba leaders under Alaafin’s leadership.
“We go into this history to let Your Excellency know that Yoruba had far reaching history than many races in the country. Unlike some other races, Traditional Rulership in not banded by religion but by Tradition and Culture. That explains the difference between us and some other cultures. Whereas, some races see deposition and installation of Traditional Rulers as mere administrative routine with executive fiat all in open glare, that is not so in Yoruba Land.
“To some races, nothing outside the mundane is attached to their Traditional Institution. Whereas, that of Yoruba is beyond the mundane as it is also ancestral and spiritual. The Yoruba Oba is the representative of the ancestors, the real owners of the land or ground. It is on this basis that we will advise against any attempt to treat traditional institution in Yoruba Land with levity and to avoid any attempt of importing any subculture of traditional degradation into Yoruba Land.
“It is ironic that while the processors In-office and ancestors of these sixteen Crown Obas (Pelupelu) famous Ekiti Kings and their subjects displayed uncommon patriotism, courage and commitment to confront the intimidating military powers of Ibadan Army for sixteen years, 1870 – 1886 that, Your Excellency as one of the beneficiaries of the legacy bequeathed by these Kings of Yoruba History is now embarking on an exercise that will rubbish the contributions of your ancestors.
“Finally, as fathers we should like to advise Your Excellency to tread softly any relationship with Traditional Institution in the name of Oduduwa and our other ancestors in Yoruba Land. Let us employ diplomacy to settle this issue. We have the mechanism of conflict resolution in ways of our ancestors.”
