By Eunice Adesola
The Ekiti State Government has intervened in the protracted crisis in Ayetoro Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area, urging the warring parties to sheathe their swords and work together to restore peace and development to the community.
The government also warned that the privilege of community autonomy would not be granted arbitrarily, stressing that any town seeking to become an autonomous community must meet the threshold prescribed by the relevant state law.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, stated this on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti while mediating in the crisis involving the Alayetoro of Ayetoro Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olufisan Ajayi, and some community elites over allegations surrounding missing transformers and a lingering chieftaincy dispute.
In his petition to the government, Oba Ajayi expressed concern over allegations by some prominent indigenes that he was responsible for the sale of six transformers donated to the community.
The monarch described the allegation as defamatory and derogatory to both his person and the traditional institution he occupies, insisting that the transformers were not sold.
Addressing stakeholders during the mediation meeting, Afuye described the alleged accusations against the monarch as worrisome, particularly where such claims were being circulated without verifiable evidence.
She warned that continued dissemination of unsubstantiated allegations could damage the collective reputation of Ayetoro and its indigenes both within Nigeria and internationally.
The Deputy Governor appealed to all parties to make necessary concessions and prioritise the peace and development of the community, rather than allowing their differences to further deepen the crisis.
She directed the monarch and the concerned community elites to jointly constitute a committee to investigate and resolve the issues and submit its report to the state government within a reasonable period.
According to her, resolving the matter internally would enable all stakeholders to work together and create the atmosphere necessary to attract meaningful development to Ayetoro.
On the agitation for autonomy by some sections of the community, Afuye said the government would not abuse the law governing the creation of autonomous communities.
She maintained that only communities that satisfy the requirements stipulated by the state’s autonomy law would be considered for such status.
“Stability and the progress of every town is paramount to Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Kabiyesi must have made some mistakes, but the elites must rally round him to bring development. You have nothing to profit in your king being arrested over issue that could have been resolved internally,” she said.
The Deputy Governor also criticised the involvement of the police authorities in Ondo State in the arrest of the monarch, describing the development as inappropriate.
“I learnt some of you are pursuing autonomy. This is not a bad ambition. But we have a law that regulates that. Governor Biodun Oyebanji won't abuse the autonomy law. It will only be given to communities that meet the standards,” she added.
Supporting the position of the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon. Ojo Atibioke, cautioned the people against pursuing autonomy in a manner that could further divide the community.
Atibioke observed that the transformer controversy might have been resolved amicably had it not been complicated by an existing chieftaincy dispute. He therefore urged stakeholders to approach all chieftaincy-related matters with caution, sincerity and a commitment to peace.
“Let all of you go and work in the committee that you are going to compose to settle this matter. Again, chieftaincy is very important to stability. Let us get it right, because it is responsible for some of the problems we are facing in our communities. It will be a shame for you to come here again to re-present this matter,” he said.
Giving details of his petition, Oba Ajayi explained that the former Minister of Education, Prof. Aborisade, donated seven refurbished transformers to the community in 2007.
According to the monarch, the transformers were installed but subsequently vandalised by thieves because of their location on the outskirts of the town.
He alleged that Hon. Owoola Ogunsanmi and Archbishop Olukayode Akinyemi had been fuelling disunity in the community and making what he described as unfounded allegations against him.
Oba Ajayi further lamented that he was arrested over the allegations and taken to police commands in Ado-Ekiti and Akure in Ondo State, despite his position as the traditional ruler of the community.
The monarch, while appreciating the state government for intervening in the matter, denied selling any of the transformers. He explained that they were vandalised by thieves and that efforts by the traditional council to repair them were unsuccessful.
However, Archbishop Akinyemi and Ogunsanmi rejected the monarch’s allegations that they were responsible for creating division in the community.
The two community leaders said their actions were aimed at defending the interests of the people of Oponu Quarters and preventing what they described as the relegation of the Ajaguna chieftaincy title in the community.
They also accused the monarch of contributing to the divisions within Ayetoro through what they described as arbitrary movements of transformers and alleged illegal sales of land, which they said had resulted in several litigations.
The Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Hon. Bamidele Omoleye, appealed to the people of Ayetoro to embrace the internal mechanisms proposed by the government to resolve the dispute.
Omoleye commended the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for intervening in the crisis, which he said had persisted since 2021, and urged all parties to seize the opportunity provided by the mediation to restore lasting peace and unity to the community.
0 Comments