Ekiti Warns Against Violation Of State Chief Laws

Ekiti State government has warned traditional institutions in the state against violation of the state’s Chief Laws.

The state government also warned a quarter head, Chief Bayo Akerele against parading himself as an Oba in the town saying Oluyin, Oba Adeola Ajakaye, is the only recognized monarch in Iyin Ekiti.

It also issued a seven day ultimatum to Chief Akerele to remove the “palace” inscription from his operational base in the community.

The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, gave the warning during a peace meeting held with the Oluyin, four quarter heads and other chiefs of the town in his office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Egbeyemi said the government would not fold its arm and watch the peaceful community descend into chaos and anarchy.
Expressing the state government’s readiness to visit the full wrath of the law on any individual or groups caught violating the laws of the state, he urged the four quarter chiefs to call their followers to order.
Otunba Egbeyemi maintained that the only palace recognized by the state government is that of the Oluyin hence no quarter chief has the power to call his traditional place of operation or personal residence a palace.
According to the Deputy Governor, the alleged action of Chief Akerele who is the Petu of Iyin and the head of Oketoro Quarters in the town as a “violation of the Ekiti State Chiefs Law.”
Otunba Egbeyemi stressed that Chief Akerele’s alleged ascription of royal authority to himself including description of his base as a palace could spark a crisis in the town hence government’s intervention in nipping it in the bud.
The Deputy Governor said the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi had always preached peace and harmony among traditional rulers, their chiefs and subjects but urged stakeholders not to take actions that could break the law.
In his reaction, the Quarter Head of Oketoro, Chief Akerele denied the allegations levelled against him over the claims that he is parading himself as an Oba in the Iyin.
Chief Akerele explained that the crisis in Iyin had been on ground before he was installed as the Petu of Oketoro in Iyin Ekiti.