Community residents reject Ekiti govt’s reinstatement of traditional chief

Members of Egbe quarters in Itapa-Ekiti have appealed to the Ekiti state government to rescind its decision on the reinstatement of one Chief Kehinde Osanyingbemi as the Chief Priest of the town.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, had on Tuesday last week ordered the reinstatement of Osanyingbemi as the Chief priest (Olori-Awo) of Itapa-Ekiti, In Oye Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during a meeting in the town, the Elemeyin of Egbe, Itapa-Ekiti, Chief Benjamin Ogunleye expressed surprise over the decision of the government on the issue, saying four quarters usually produce Olori-Awo and that it is the turn of Egbe quarters to occupy the chieftaincy seat.

According to him, “It is four quarters that usually produce Olori-Awo, the four houses have completed their tenure, then we supposed to start the rotation from number one again, Egbe quarters is the first among the four quarters.”

Ogunleye explained that Chief Temitope Ajayi was installed as Olori-Awo nine years ago, as all necessary rites were done during his installation in the shrine which qualifies him as the only one recognised to occupy the chieftaincy position.

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“It is true that the Owatapa, Oba Makanjuola Ajaja mistakenly installed Kehinde Osanyingbemi as Olori-Awo, but we told him that it is not his duty to install a Chief Priest and that it is the turn of Egbe quarters to become Olori-Awo, he agreed that we should go ahead to perform rites for the installation of Chief Temitope Ajayi, which we did and since 2015, he has been performing his duties as expected.

“He had issue with Kabiesi and the King decided to punish him, while the traditional ruler also petitioned Ekiti State government on the matter, so we thought the state government through the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye wanted to intervene on the matter on Tuesday, but to our surprise, it was the issue of Olori-Awo that was brought up before the Deputy Governor which she gave directive that Osanyingbemi should be reinstated.

“Members of Egbe quarters were not invited to the meeting so that we could bare our minds on the issue and present necessary documents about the chieftaincy tussle,” he said.

Also, the Olugotun of Egbe quarters, Itapa, Chief Joseph Ajayi urged concerned stakeholders in the matter not to be partial, but to work towards ensuring that truth prevails in order to give room for peaceful co-existence in the town.

On his part, Chief Temitope Ajayi noted that due to his installation as the Olori-Awo of Itapa-Ekiti, he has been active and performing his duties as expected, which he said made him elected as the Chairman, Olori Awo in Council, Oye local government and one of the state Executives.

They therefore called on the state government to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter and make amendments where necessary in the interest of peace and harmony.